Contact: Melanie Saunders, Extended Learning Manager, telephone 01962 846364, e-mail: m[email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That the school term and holiday dates as set out in Appendix 1 be approved for the school year 2008/2009.

2 Reason

2.1 Establishing more balanced term lengths with regular breaks supports Aim 1 of the corporate strategy, maximising wellbeing, by helping schools and families to plan learning more effectively. Aim 2, Hampshire, safer and more secure for all, is supported by achieving agreement on dates across the county so that schools and their communities can work effectively together in school and out of school hours.

2.2 Achieving a proper structure to the school year contributes to all aspects of The Children Act 2004. Properly structured periods of learning and rest help children to remain healthy, enjoy their school time and achieve more. Children are safer in school and good attendance supports educational achievement laying the foundation for a positive contribution to society and economic well-being. The publication of dates well in advance enables families to plan holidays and arrange childcare so that school attendance need not be compromised.

3 Other options considered and rejected

3.1 Two other options were considered:

(i) To finish the school year earlier in the week beginning 20 July 2009 by starting on 1 September 2008. This was not in line with the agreed principles for setting the school year which recommend that in any split week, the larger part is in school to reduce the risk of truancy.

(ii) To schedule a more radical pattern in which the weekend of the Whitsun bank holiday (25 May) is separated from summer half term in addition to the separation of the Easter weekend. This would provide even better balance to the terms and create pressure for the suggested permanent move of the bank holiday to the first week in June, as in the Jubilee year. However, this does not accord with the recommendations of the LGA and would be unlikely to be replicated in our neighbouring authorities. The level of variation from previous years would be even greater and, without a nationally agreed change, this would not align with public examination dates.

4 Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive Member consulted

4.1 None

5 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee -

5.1 None

6 Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent -

6.1 None

Approved by: Date:

........................................

Councillor D.A.Kirk

Executive Member for Education