Head teachers defend decision for different term times despite opposition from parents
HEADTEACHERS have defended their decision to schedule different term times for the 2011/2012 school year, despite mounting opposition from parents.
Students at a handful of secondary schools in the region are facing the prospect of going on their holidays while friends and family members at other institutions are still stuck in the classroom.
-
Havelock Academy principal Nick O'Sullivan.
Mums and dads around the town are worried that the term time reshuffle could wreak havoc with vacation plans, however, education chiefs have been quick to reassure worried parents that the specific dates have been carefully selected to benefit pupils.
Youngsters studying at Tollbar Business and Enterprise College, Cleethorpes Academy and Havelock Academy can expect to receive different term timetables for those at other schools.
North East Lincolnshire Council Cabinet members approved the new term-time dates for local authority schools for 2011/2012.
However, councillors are powerless to stop schools with academy status from setting their own holiday periods, which has resulted in governing bodies arranging a two-week break in October at Tollbar and Cleethorpes Academy and fortnight breaks in October and February at Havelock.
Read reaction in today's Grimsby Telegraph.
4 Comments
by ktmacca, Gy
Saturday, July 24 2010, 5:18PM
“It is not up to local Heads when holidays are set - it is all done by the local authority. The only time Heads can plan off school are the two training days that are at their own discretion. It is only the academies that can set their own hols. No one was able to join Woodlands pilot because it was all led and managed by the council!”
by paul, healing
Saturday, July 24 2010, 4:03PM
“are the local primary feeder schools going to change their term times again also? what about the families that have children at both primary and secondary schools? - how are they supposed to plan holidays? How irresponsible and arrogant can you get!”
by JO, GY
Saturday, July 24 2010, 2:18PM
“Correct me if I am wrong but this is nothing new, 11 years ago Mr Tom Wilson did this at Woodlands Primary School as a pilot, no other school was brave enough to join him at that time and in the end the school had to revert back to the same term time as other schools.”
by stuart, at home
Saturday, July 24 2010, 1:38PM
“my eldest two children go to havelock,and it makes a holiday far cheaper, because the travel agents/companys put the price up to take advantage of the school holidays,i don't have to take them out of school.the only parents it will affect are the ones with kids that go to different school. my children seem to have longer days,and longer holidays. there happy with it.”