A COUNCIL in the north has approved significant cuts to the length of their school holidays.

It was revealed this month that Barnsley Council in South Yorkshire would be cutting their schools’ summer holiday down to less than five weeks in the 2017-18 academic year, with a longer break in the October half term.

Councillors justified the decision by saying it would help spread school breaks more evenly across the year and reduce learning loss for children during summer. Principles argued that the cut would lead to difficulties in staff recruitment.

When asked if the holiday length would be changing in Essex, the county council stated they currently have no plans to change the length of school holidays.

Just how long is the right amount of time for children to be away from their studies during the summer? Reporter Ellis Whitehouse has been talking to the people of Maldon and Burnham to find out their views.

Diane McCallum, of Milton Road, Maldon, who has grandchildren in Plume Academy, said: “I think the summer holidays are fine as they are, I like all the time I get with my grandchildren.

“Obviously though, good weather makes all the difference.”

Glyness Rowell, 67, of Burnham, grandmother to children in Burnham Primary, said: “Quite indifferent to the length it is now, but I love the time with my grandchildren.”

Tina Wood, of Tennyson Road, Maldon, has two children in Plume Academy, and favours the idea of an extended Christmas break.

She said: “I do think the six week holiday is too long. If we had a five week summer break and a week added to the Christmas Holidays it would work better, as they are way too short.

“The kids don't get long enough to enjoy their presents, and I hate it when they have to go back so soon after the festivities.”

Michelle Olley, of Longship Way, Maldon, also believes a shifting a week from summer to another holiday could improve schools.

She said: “It makes little sense for a secondary academy to run a calendar separately from feeder primary schools as parents will have children in both institutions. However, in a large MAT (Multi Academy Trust) they could change the calendar from the county council.

“As far as a five week summer is concerned there are pros and cons. Some children do attend summer schools or have tutors as a break that long is detrimental to learning.

“However parents must take children on holiday during school holidays and pricing is very competitive.

“If our local schools joined as a MAT (Multi Academy Trust) and moved holidays so our parents saved money, a shorter summer with perhaps a two week whitsun break could give us more options and improve grades.”

Carl Wakefield, Principal of Plume Academy, said: “In terms of the holiday situation, I always reflect on what my own Academy is doing rather than other colleagues as in many ways it is ‘each to their own’.

“However, as far as Plume is concerned, we are happy with the traditional summer period and for a whole host of reasons. Therefore we will be adhering to this timescale in the future.”

Finally, Richard Miller, Mayor of Maldon, said: “When my children were school age and were on their summer holidays, I always used to fear that up to six weeks would make the children drop their eye off the ball and lose focus. I thought that four weeks would be a better length.

“However, as a school governor I can appreciate the length as teachers need the holiday; they have a very tough job and deserve their time off.”

Representatives of Ormiston Rivers Academy in Burnham did not respond to requests for comment.