Island School Holidays Shake-Up Gets Green Light
The Isle of Wight is set for a school term shake-up in 2019/20. The summer break will be chopped by a week, while the autumn half-term in October is extended to a full two weeks.
Public Backs New Term Dates
The changes got the official thumbs-up on Thursday from the Isle of Wight Council’s Cabinet, following a huge public consultation last year. Nearly 1,900 people had their say, with 59% backing a shorter summer holiday and 67% keen on a longer October half-term rather than extending spring break.
Families and Schools Win in New Calendar
Cabinet member for children’s services, Councillor Paul Brading, said: “These changes reflect the majority of responses to our thorough public consultation which clearly demonstrated there is a desire to try a new approach.”
Brading added term dates will be reviewed every year, stressing the council’s focus remains on boosting educational standards and increasing school attendance. “We want to offer families more choice over holiday timing while evening out term lengths,” he said.
He also confirmed that Island schools will align their calendars to avoid confusion across different schools.
Who Had Their Say?
- 68% of feedback came from parents and carers
- Input also gathered from pupils, teachers, and school staff
- Others included various community members
The school year revamp aims to balance family needs with academic goals—watch this space for future reviews and tweaks.
