The school calendar under the spotlight

Thursday 04 January 2024

With most pupils across the Bailiwick not due back in the classroom until Tuesday or Wednesday of next week, more than 80% of those responding to an Express survey said that this year's Christmas break was too late, with some saying school term dates need a shake up overall.

The three private colleges broke up for Christmas on Friday 15 December but States schools broke up at midday on Friday 22.

Staff at most schools - colleges and States schools - will be back for the new term on Monday 8 January with pupils returning to most classroom settings on Tuesday 9.

Some schools have an additional inset day with pupils not due back until Wednesday 10 January.

Pictured: The current term dates for Guernsey and Alderney's States schools. 

In a statement issued to Express ahead of the Christmas break, a spokesperson for Education, Sport, and Culture said the late holiday is unlikely to be repeated again.

“Guernsey’s term dates are prepared internally," the ESC spokesperson explained.

"Consultation first takes place with a range of stakeholders before they are approved by the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture. Term dates are approved some years in advance, with the current academic year’s agreed by the previous Committee. 

“It is unusual to break up so close to Christmas but this was agreed to maximise the number of weekends during this year’s winter break. Planning for future term dates from 2025-29 is currently underway and it is not expected there will be similar late finishes at Christmas time.”

Pictured: While some children were said to be "exhausted" at the end of last term, others will be raring to go this term. 

The long autumn - or Michaelmas - term will be followed by a very short spring - or Hilary - term.

Between September and December, children attended school for 14 weeks and two days with one week for half term in October.

Between January and March this year, pupils will be in lessons for 9 weeks and three days with a week off in February.

The final term of this school year - known as Trinity - will be 13 weeks and two days long, with a week off for the May half term and at least two other bank holidays during that same month. 

Children at States' schools will have six weeks and a day off for their summer holiday next year. The colleges have an additional fortnight off in July too.

These term dates all follow a pattern set hundreds of years ago when schooling became mandatory for children across many developed countries, including the Channel Islands. 

Pictured: Children used to help with farming, meaning the traditional school year was set around planting and harvest schedules. 

The long summer break with the May and October half terms were designed to enable children to help with farming duties. 

Some of the comments in reply to our poll on school term dates suggested it was time to change this.

One suggestion was that the Easter holiday should be shortened by a week with that time added to the existing fortnight off at Christmas.

Others suggested shortening the summer term by a week, an idea shared by others.

"The whole holiday system needs reviewing," said one parent. "A five week summer maybe, three week Easter etc. In 2024, they go back 9th January and finish for February half term on the 9th - such a short half term!"

A number of comments suggested lengthening the October half term with one teacher saying: "the term from September to December is the longest and most exhausting! Every year at Christmas time I am sick due to being run down, this year was no different..."

Pictured: The Express poll is now closed. 

The Express poll run before Christmas had hundreds of responses with 82% of people saying they felt the 2023 Christmas holiday started too late with pupils going back too late in January too. Those people would have preferred an earlier break up and an earlier return to learning.

Express asked for additional comments too.

While only one person responding to the survey did say that the late break up was beneficial to working parents, others commenting on social media also shared that view point. 

"When you’re a working parent, children staying at school longer means you can work up until Christmas," said one.

The majority of comments, both on the survey itself and via social media, were around how exhausted children were by the end of last term.

"This year was too late," said one parent. "I’ve never seen the children so exhausted before."

Teachers were also feeling tired by 22 December according to some of the responses to our poll. 

"Clearly the children’s wellbeing was not taken into consideration making this decision. Nor was the teachers," said another parent. "Our child is beyond exhausted and the excitement for Christmas within a few days of breaking up means a very emotional and difficult time with a lot of emotions. This was a ridiculous decision made by people who have no idea what repercussions this could have on the children!"

Another said: "It’s deeply unfair to all of the school staff to leave them essentially one day to prepare for Christmas, people underestimate how exhausting the run up to Christmas is for staff and children and they need time to recover before the festivities begin in full swing."

One parent suggested the late break up and return to lessons had been agreed to benefit families planning skiing holidays in January, others worried that schools not breaking up until 22 December would have impacted plans for those intending to be away for Christmas itself.

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