New proposals will slash summer holidays in favour of a fortnightly Autumn break

Landmark plans to reduce the school summer holiday from six weeks to five weeks have been proposed by one council – with pupils instead receiving a longer half-term break in October.

Stoke City Council are considering shortening the summer holidays and adding an extra week on to the October half term, in order to give children a fortnightly break during the autumn term.

The plans, which will come into effect in September 2018 if approved, were initially mooted after a parent from the Isle of Wight won a high court battle against a fine he received for taking his daughter out of class during term time.

Jon Platt was fined £120 for taking his daughter out of school – but High Court judges yesterday ruled in his favour after taking the her high attendance rate into consideration.

The Stoke Sentinel reports that parents in Stoke have been given two options – keeping current term times or cutting the summer holiday by a week in favour of a two-week October half term.

Janine Briggs, Stoke City Council’s cabinet member for education, said: ‘In line with Government guidelines, we are now looking at term dates with a view to accommodating parents’ views to facilitate holidays being taken in off-peak periods.

‘Currently these proposals are out to consultation. The suggested extra week in October and the reduction of the long summer holiday is the result of an initial consultation with parents and staff.’

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But not everyone was convinced – with some claiming that the new holidays could cause chaos for staff who travel in from separate areas.

Grahame Colclough, the business and operations leader at Burnwood Community School in Stoke, said: ‘We are not sure what the benefits of having a two-week break in October would be.

‘But one of our biggest concerns would be the effect it has on neighbouring local authorities. It could prove difficult for staff and parents who live in other areas if the holidays don’t marry up.’