Feedback on School Holiday Dates (School Calendar) for the Academic Year 2010-2011

Welcome to the web pages we have created specifically to seek the views of local people on the school holiday dates (the school calendar) for the academic year 2010-2011.

The Local Authority has been working with regional authorities towards a co-ordinated approach in the setting of school terms and holidays (the school calendar) for the academic year 2010-2011 and beyond. 

In 2011, Easter falls particularly late making the planning of the Easter break challenging.  As a consequence, two variations are being put forward for consideration. The notes on the possible variations are included in Notes on the School Calendar Options for 2010/2011 below.

School Calendar Options for 2010/2011
In Related Downloads you will find the Local Authority’s draft school calendar Options 1 and 2 and response form. The Local Authority is keen to receive your views on the calendar options by 30 April 2009. However, it is important to stress that this wider publication of the calendar is to gauge the general views of all interested persons and it is not a referendum.

Notes on the School Calendar Options for 2010/2011 (please read these notes before submitting a response)

(i)  Option 1
The start date of Monday, 6 September follows Wakefield’s traditional pattern as previously agreed by Cabinet.

A return to school on Monday, 6 September lengthens the summer break in 2010 to 5 weeks and 3 days; it allows families to take a holiday during the August Bank Holiday week and allows secondary schools 5 working days following the publication of GCSE results to make preparations for the new academic year.

A return to school on Monday, 6 September means that 3 days have to be clawed back from elsewhere in the school calendar.  Subsequently, two have been taken from the Christmas break and one from the Easter break.  It is anticipated that many governing bodies would set these as INSET days.

(ii)  Option 2
The start date is Wednesday, 1 September.

A return to school on Wednesday, 1 September shortens the summer break in 2010 to 5 weeks for all schools.

A return to school on Wednesday, 1 September allows secondary schools 3 working days following the publication of GCSE results to make preparations for the new academic year.

A return to school on Wednesday, 1 September immediately follows the August Bank Holiday weekend;

This option allows governing bodies greater flexibility when setting INSET days.

(iii)  Easter
There are two variations for the Easter break within each calendar option, as follows:

Option 1
• Tuesday 12 April to Monday 25 April (with the Easter bank holiday at the end 
   of the school break); OR
• Tuesday 19 April to Monday 2 May (with the Easter bank holiday in the 
   middle of the two week school break).

 Option 2
• Monday 11 April to Monday 25 April (with the Easter bank holiday at the end 
  of the school break); OR
• Monday 18 April to Monday 2 May (with the Easter bank holiday in the 
  middle of the two week school break).
   
A return to school after Easter on 26 April 2011 allows more preparation time prior to SATs and GCSE examinations.

A return to school after Easter on 3 May allows only 3 or 4 days preparation time prior to SATs and GCSE examinations.

INSET Days
A teacher is required to be available for work on up to 195 days. This leaves 5 non-teaching work days, or INSET days.

The LA does not propose to designate the first day of the Autumn Term in 2010 as an INSET day. 

Schools used for election purposes will be asked to use Thursday, 5 May 2011 as an INSET day.  Schools not used for election purposes may arrange an alternative closure for INSET.

Please contact the relevant school for dates of the 5 INSET days.
 
Available Downloads

Please see the downloads at the right of the page for further information.

How to reply

If you wish to respond please use the "Response Form" in Related Downloads.

The closing date for responses is Thursday, 30 April 2009.

Thank you for your interest and for taking the time to respond.

School Calendar 2008/2009

For the academic year 2008/2009, school term and holiday dates are as follows:

Autumn Term 2008

Spring Term 2009

Summer Term 2009

Pupils will attend on 190 days.
Monday 1 September 2008 will be an INSET day.
Individual schools may decide the dates of the remaining 4 INSET days.

There are no council elections in May 2009.  However, schools used as polling stations should have regard to the possibility of a General Election when planning for INSET.

School Calendar 2009 / 2010

For the academic year 2009/2010, school term and holiday dates are as follows:

Autumn Term 2009

Spring Term 2010

Summer Term 2010

Pupils will attend on 190 days.
Monday 7 September 2009 will be an INSET day.
Individual schools may decide the dates of the remaining 3 INSET days.

*Schools normally used as polling stations are asked to use this day for INSET.  Schools not used for election purposes may arrange an alternative closure for INSET.