England Schools could have the ability to set their own term dates
(PRWEB UK) 5 July 2013 -- Schools could have the ability to decide on the start and finish dates of school terms.
From September 2015, all state schools in England could decide their own term dates. The change is included in the government's deregulation bill, which removes the role of local authorities in fixing the dates of school terms and leaves the decision to school leaders and governors.
The plans put forward in the Deregulation Bill would mean schools that are not academies would not have to accept the term dates set by local authorities. However, schools would still have to operate within a legal limit of a minimum of 190 school days each year.
The Derby Telegraph reported how Lynda Poole, Derby City Council assistant strategic director, said: "We liaise with other local authorities to negotiate term dates but we tend to align with Derbyshire County Council more as most of our young people go to Derby or Derbyshire schools.
"We negotiate dates two years in advance so families have plenty of notice. Most of our schools and academies use these dates or try to overlap with them in order to help families with children in more than one school."
Brian Lightman general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders said: "Most schools choose to follow the local authority calendar because they know that it's better for parents who have children in different schools and teachers who want their holidays to coincide with their children's.”
Michaela Powell is the Managing Director of a large education recruitment agency that helps professionals find teaching jobs and non-teaching jobs in schools and academies. In the light of this development Michaela is concerned for her business, she said: “This decision doesn’t just affect the pupils and parents but those working in schools also. Aspire People have had just shy of 1000 different professionals working in schools across the West and East Midlands this academic year. One of the main reasons people enter in to the education sector is to spend time with their children during the school holidays. This could create chaos if school workers have to take time off because their child’s school has chosen a different holiday period to that of their own. Not only will this affect their work-life-balance but our business.
“Of course, we can arrange cover for our school workers who have to take their holiday when their child’s school breaks up but this effects continuity and creates upset. It will make things very difficult to manage. I am confident that most schools wont react quickly to this and have the interests of students, staff and pupils to heart.”
Brian Lightman added: “The problem will come if no one is responsible for creating a co-ordinated calendar for an area and it turns into a free-for-all.
"Somebody needs to take the lead locally on deciding term dates and it makes sense for this to be the local authority, even if schools aren't required by law to follow it," said Mr Lightman,
Michalea Powell set up Aspire People in November 2004. Close to the 10 year anniversary, her business has become one of the most successful education recruitment agencies in the UK, reputable for being the best supply teaching agency to candidates and clients.
The Deregulation Bill can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210035/130701_CM_8642_Draft_Deregulation_Bill.pdf
Derby Telegraph Article "Gove bid to let schools decide own term time branded 'mad' Thursday July 4th: http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Gove-bid-let-schools-decide-term-time-branded-mad/story-19474393-detail/story.html#ixzz2Y9jRlH50
Cherie-Anne Baxter, Aspire People, http://www.aspirepeople.co.uk, 0121 314 3606, [email protected]
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