Time for school holiday rethink?
I WOULD like to make a couple of suggestions to help reduce the number of parents taking their children out of school during term-time for holidays.
Firstly, alter the dates of Guernsey school holidays to be out of sync with the UK. Last year, the October half-term was the week before the UK's half-term, thus parents were able to avoid elevated flight and holiday prices. This, however, is not the case every year.
Secondly, determine which time of the year most pupil absences occur.
I may be wrong, but my initial assumption would be that parents extend their holidays into term-time around Christmas or the February half-term, in order to go skiing or long haul for some winter sun. If this is the case, make the winter school holidays longer and perhaps shorten the Easter break.
School holidays have been the same for decades.
Perhaps their format needs reviewing in line with changing population/habits. Many families prefer to go on holiday during the winter and stay in Guernsey in the summertime to enjoy all the island has to offer.
Name and address withheld.
