School Holiday Arrangements School Session 2024 2025 ECSPB
Renfrewshire Council · 2 November 2023
Back to Education and Children's Services Policy Board — 2 November 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
To: Education and Children’s Services Policy Board On: 2 November 2023 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Interim Chief Education Officer ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: School Holiday Arrangements School Session 2024/2025 ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1. The Education and Children’s Services Policy Board is asked to determine the pattern of school holiday arrangements for the school session beginning August 2024. 1.2. In line with consultation arrangements and discussion with trade union representatives, Children’s Services have taken the decision this year not to offer 3 proposals. It was felt that the option being proposed for 2024/2025 provides the pattern of holidays that the majority of staff, pupils and parents vote for annually. Staff, pupils and parents were given the opportunity to comment on the proposal. 1.3. Attached as Appendix 1 to this report, is the proposal shared with staff, parents and pupil representatives. 1.4. Appendix 2 is a summary of consultation responses received back. __________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1. Members of the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board are asked to authorise the interim chief education officer to set school holiday arrangements for academic year 2024/2025 in line with appendix 1 to this report. ___________________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1. Each year the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board is asked to determine a framework for school holiday arrangements for the session beginning in August of the following year.
Page 2
3.2. Consultation has taken place with staff, parent councils, pupil councils, teaching and other trade unions for consideration on the proposal for 2024/2025. 3.3. The recommended arrangements attached are the best match possible to those being considered by neighbouring councils given the varying fair holiday arrangements. 3.4. The proposed patterns meet, where possible, the majority of the desirable features which are: aligning the dates of major holidays with those of neighbouring councils; providing a two week break at Christmas, including Christmas eve; providing a mid-term break in February; and providing a two week school holiday in spring. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of this report 1. Financial Implications None. 2. HR and Organisational Development Implications None. 3. Community Plan/Council Plan Implications None. 4. Legal Implications None. 5. Property/Assets Implications None. 6. Information Technology Implications None. 7. Equality and Human Rights Implications The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report because for example it is for noting only. If required following implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored, and the results of the assessment will be published on the Council’s website. 8. Health and Safety Implications None.
Page 3
9. Procurement Implications None. 10. Risk Implications None. 11. Privacy Impact None. 12. Cosla Policy Position None. 13. Climate Risk None List of Background Papers (a) Background Paper 1: Proposed School Holiday Arrangements – 2023/2024 The foregoing background papers will be retained within children’s services for inspection by the public for the prescribed period of four years from the date of the meeting. The contact officer within the service is (Laura Baillie, Resources Support Manager, 07970876292 laura.baillie@renfrewshire.gov.uk) ___________________________________________________________________ Children’s Services GL/LB 2 October 2023 Author: Laura Baillie, Resources Support Manager, 07970876292 laura.baillie@renfrewshire.gov.uk
Page 4
Appendix 1
Page 5
Page 1 of 5 Appendix 2 Please select your establishment Do you agree with the draft term time dates/ holiday plan for the 2024/25 session? Please add any further comments that you would like us to consider about the draft term time dates/ holiday plan? Response type Arkleston Primary School Yes Teacher Arkleston Primary School No Concern regarding children only being back one day and then off for the weekend. Could be confusing particularly for P1 children. Teacher Auchenlodment Primary School Yes Teacher Auchenlodment Primary School Yes Teacher Barsail Primary School Yes Teacher Barsail Primary School Yes Parent Council Barsail Primary School Yes Pupil Bushes Primary School Yes Teacher Bushes Primary School Yes Parent Council Bushes Primary School Yes Pupil Castlehead High School No The long weekend at the end of May has been changed to 1 day ‐ where has the other day been placed. Teacher Castlehead High School Yes Don’t see any benefit for pupils coming back for only one day on Friday 16th Aug 2024 ‐ potential for low attendance. Could it be considered for IS on 13/14th Aug, and pupils return 15/16th Aug. Then finish on Thurs 26th June 2025? Parents tend to book holidays straight after school finishes and this would allow for Friday / Weekend flights, plus probably better attendance. Just a suggestion. Parent Council Castlehead High School No Preference Parent Council Castlehead High School Yes Parent Council Castlehead High School Yes Parent Council East Fulton Primary School Yes Teacher East Fulton Primary School Yes Starting back after summer on a Friday feels a bit pointless Parent Council East Fulton Primary School Yes Pupil Ferguslie ELCC Yes Parent Council Fordbank Primary School Yes Teacher Glencoats Primary School No Preference Teacher Heriot Primary School Yes Howwood Primary School Yes Parent Council Howwood Primary School No Completely pointless opening on a Friday for first day of the School year (16/08/24). Also Spring holidays Parent Council Howwood Primary School No Would prefer in‐service days after a holiday. Teacher Howwood Primary School No There's not been much feedback regarding school holidays next year, other than school beginning on the Friday. The general feedback on this is that there's not much point being back for one day & the preference would be either to move this to Wednesday/ Thursday or begin on the Monday and start the first week with a full week. Parent Council Johnstone High School Yes Teacher Johnstone High School Yes None Teacher Johnstone High School No Preference Teacher Johnstone High School No Preference n/a Teacher Johnstone High School Yes Teacher Johnstone High School No I believe that we should move to align with English school holidays. This would help with families meeting up from Scotland and England. It would also be beneficial to Scottish parents working for English companies to align with Parent Council
Page 6
Page 2 of 5 Please select your establishment Do you agree with the draft term time dates/ holiday plan for the 2024/25 session? Please add any further comments that you would like us to consider about the draft term time dates/ holiday plan? Response type colleagues down south. Finally, weather patterns are changing and July is now one of the wettest months of the year! Kilbarchan Primary School Yes Teachers would rather in‐service days fall after a holiday instead of before, as has been in previous years. Teacher Kilbarchan Primary School No The Parent Council are concerned about children starting back in August on a Friday. The concern was raised as the PC feel this will cause children ‐ in particular those in the early stages ‐ to be distressed and unsettled for longer than necessary. Parent Council Kirklandneuk Primary School No Inservice days are preferable at the end of holidays not the start. Cut a week from the summer holiday and add onto the October holiday to make that a 2week break. Teacher Linwood High School Yes Teacher Linwood High School Yes Couple of staff suggested they would prefer the in service days to be after the holidays in October & February. thanks Teacher Lochfield Primary School Yes Teacher Lochwinnoch Primary School Yes Teacher Lochwinnoch Primary School Yes Teacher Mossvale Primary School Yes Teacher Mossvale Primary School Yes Teacher Our Lady of Peace ELCC No Preference Our Lady Of Peace Primary School Yes Pupil Our Lady Of Peace Primary School No I dont think starting a new school year on a Friday is ideal, especially for P1's. Also, I thought the Easter holidays were changed so they would be the first 2 weeks in April? Or is this to coincide with Easter? Parent Council Our Lady Of Peace Primary School Yes Parent Council Our Lady Of Peace Primary School No Preference Pupil Our Lady Of Peace Primary School Yes Teacher Our Lady Of Peace Primary School No All local and mid term holidays should not be required, and we should not be hindering our children’s learning to allow staff to have days off. This also includes the summer holiday which should be reduced to 4 weeks Parent Council Our Lady Of Peace Primary School Yes Pupil Our Lady Of Peace Primary School Yes Pupil Our Lady Of Peace Primary School No Parent Council Paisley Grammar School No Preference Teacher Paisley Grammar School Yes A full week of school closure in February (with fewer days off elsewhere in the year) would be preferable as this would enable certain winter school trips to take place more easily. Teacher Paisley Grammar School Yes From memory, the weekend holiday at the end of May usually provides 2 days off school for both pupils and staff. The 2025 end‐of‐May holiday only provides 1 day off. Is this because of the extra Monday holiday added on at the end of the 2025 Easter holidays (which provides 2 full weeks and 1 extra day off)? Is this correct? Please could you clarify this? Teacher
Page 7
Page 3 of 5 Please select your establishment Do you agree with the draft term time dates/ holiday plan for the 2024/25 session? Please add any further comments that you would like us to consider about the draft term time dates/ holiday plan? Response type Paisley Grammar School No In service days are too heavy on the end of the week days, staff that work part time (start of the week i.e. mon‐wed) will have issues with childcare with so many friday in service days Teacher Paisley Grammar School No I prefer in‐service days after a holiday instead of before. Teacher Paisley Grammar School Yes Teacher Ralston Primary School Yes Renfrew High School Yes It is maybe unclear as to whether Monday 30th June 2024 is the last day? Teacher Renfrew High School No Preference Teacher Renfrew High School No Preference The Easter holidays are almost a week later than normal but I understand the decision due to adapting to suit a later Easter Sunday and Monday. Hopefully the SQA exams don’t start during week commencing 22 April. Teacher Renfrew High School No Majority of inservice days on Friday, not good for part time/jobshare staff. Inservices all before holidays except August not ideal. St Andrews day holiday on a Friday would be better, Mondays already have many holidays. Teacher Renfrew High School No Teacher Renfrew High School Yes Teacher Renfrew High School No Preference Parent Council Renfrew High School Yes Teacher Renfrew High School No I would like to see an option where the last day of term is earlier than Friday 27th June 2025. (Even if this means loosing a holiday day or two at earlier in the year.) Teacher Renfrew High School Yes Teacher Renfrew High School Yes n/a Teacher Renfrew High School No Don't think the pupils should be starting back for one day only(Friday) in Aug 24. Would prefer if it was a Monday Teacher Renfrew High School No I do not work a Friday and it is unfair that the majority of the inservice days fall on a Friday Teacher Riverbrae School Yes Teacher Riverbrae School Yes Preferable In‐Service days on Mondays rather than Fridays. St Anne's Primary School Yes Return to school on a Friday does seem to be a little short. Parent Council St Catherine's Primary School No Returning in summer for session is inservice Wednesday and Thursday with pupils returning on a Friday. This will severely impact on attendance as parents/pupils will not attend for one day. The inservice days should be following Monday/Tuesday pupils returning Wednesday to ensure greater attendance. Teacher St Fillan's Primary School Yes Teacher St Fillan's Primary School Yes Parent Council St Fillan's Primary School Yes Pupil St James's Primary School (Renf) Yes Teacher St James's Primary School (Renf) Yes Teacher St James's Primary School (Renf) Yes Teacher St James's Primary School (Renf) No In service days after holidays not before ‐September weekend the weekend before as too close to October holiday ‐2 days at end of May for long weekend as always, not sure why only 1 planned Teacher St James's Primary School (Renf) Yes Teacher St James's Primary School (Renf) No Preference Teacher St James's Primary School (Renf) Yes Teacher
Page 8
Page 4 of 5 Please select your establishment Do you agree with the draft term time dates/ holiday plan for the 2024/25 session? Please add any further comments that you would like us to consider about the draft term time dates/ holiday plan? Response type St James's Primary School (Renf No We’re unsure why there’s been a change to the spring holidays which are normally the first two weeks of April, we thought this had been agreed previously for future years. We also don’t think that it’s good for pupils, that the first day of the new school year is a Friday, giving pupils particularly new pupils only 1 day at school before a weekend. We agree that a short week is beneficial but not only back for 1 day. Parent Council St John Bosco Primary School Yes We feel that a first day of session for children on a Friday is not ideal. Our preference would also be for in‐service days to be after a holiday rather than before. Teacher St John Ogilvie Primary School No In‐Service day after the holidays Teacher St John Ogilvie Primary School Yes Parent Council St Peter's Primary School Yes Teacher Thorn Primary School Yes A full two working week at christmas is always popular Teacher Thorn Primary School No Would prefer Inservice after a holiday. May weekend means that families cannot go away for a traditional break ‐ ie Center Parcs as break only Friday to Monday. Teacher Todholm Primary School Yes 1. Friday return to school for pupils on term one. 2. The September weekend is very close to the Oct break however I am not sure what the option would be given that Sept weekend is national, and we probably wouldn’t want the October break being too late. 3. Easter break is very late but again, I think this has been dictated by Easter bank holiday weekend dates which are really late in 2025 4. Just a check that last day of term 3 is Friday 27 June? If not, it doesn’t make sense to have school open for one day on a Monday. Parent Council Todholm Primary School Yes Teachers raised concerns about returning on a Friday. Teacher Todholm Primary School Yes Parent Council Trinity High School Yes Teacher Trinity High School Yes Pupil Trinity High School Yes Parent Council Wallace ELCC Yes I like that the in‐service days are on a Friday and before the holidays. Teacher Wallace ELCC No For me, the 3/5 in‐service days falling on a Friday is a concern. I generally try to attend all 5 regardless of my 0.8 contract. Teacher Wallace ELCC Yes Teacher Wallace Primary School No Preference Teacher Williamsburgh ELCC Yes Teacher Williamsburgh ELCC Yes Williamsburgh ELCC Yes Teacher Williamsburgh Primary School Yes Teacher Williamsburgh Primary School No Preference However having the pupils in for only one day and then the weekend, could be quite detrimental to those who struggle with transition. Parents may extend holidays to include the Friday and start them on the Monday. Teacher Williamsburgh Primary School Yes Teacher Williamsburgh Primary School Yes Teacher Williamsburgh Primary School Yes Teacher Williamsburgh Primary School Yes Teacher Williamsburgh Primary School Yes Teacher
Page 9
Page 5 of 5 Please select your establishment Do you agree with the draft term time dates/ holiday plan for the 2024/25 session? Please add any further comments that you would like us to consider about the draft term time dates/ holiday plan? Response type Williamsburgh Primary School No I would prefer the in‐service day to be after the October holiday. Teacher Williamsburgh Primary School Yes Teacher Williamsburgh Primary School Yes Parent Council Woodlands Primary School No Preference Woodlands Primary School Yes Teacher Woodlands Primary School Yes One comment I would maybe make myself would be the return date for pupils after the summer holidays, is it being a Friday return. It almost seems a shame to get the children (and parents) hyped up/nervous/excited for one day to then go straight to the weekend, and potentially have kids be back at square one, on the Monday. Parent Council Woodlands Primary School Yes Pupil