Consultation

School Terms and Holidays 2017/2018 Consultation

Response to the consultation

Decision made

Purpose of the consultation

Results

 

New term dates for 2017-2018

New teacher training day

 

INTRODUCTION

 

 

Coventry Local Authority is now seeking your views on school terms and holidays options for the 2017/2018 academic year.

The Governing Bodies of academies, free schools, foundation/trust and voluntary aided schools currently have the power to set the term and holiday dates for their own schools. The Local Authority is responsible for setting the school term and holiday dates for community, voluntary controlled, community special and maintained nursery schools.

The Local Authority believes that a standard set of holiday dates adopted by all Coventry schools will be better for school attendance, the organisation of admissions to Year R/Year 7 and for parents and carers arranging childcare and transport. The term and holiday setting procedure will continue for 2017/18 as in previous years and Coventry schools will be requested to adopt the outcome of this consultation.

 

BACKGROUND

Coventry takes into account the following principles in setting calendars for school terms and holidays:

v  a school year is 195 days, with 190 pupil days and five teacher days;

v  one teacher day is determined by the Local Authority and four days by individual schools;

v  statutory holidays are observed;

v  schools prefer full weeks of teaching wherever possible;

v  schools prefer a full week break at half term and two full weeks at Easter and Christmas;

v  half term holidays are set at the same time as those of neighbouring authorities if possible.

The comments from consultations of previous years are also taken into account.

 

TEACHER DAYS

A teacher day (INSET day) is a work day for teachers, but not a pupil teaching day 

If a community or voluntary controlled school decides to close to pupils on an election day then one of the remaining four teacher days must be used for this purpose.  This is also recommended for foundation/trust and voluntary aided schools and for academies.


There are Local Elections currently set for 3 May 2018

 

Options for the 2017/2018 Academic Year  

The Academic year starts on the same date in each option, Tuesday 5 September 2017 for pupils and Monday 4 September 2017 for teachers.


The half term holiday dates are the same in all three options as these are the dates agreed with other West Midlands Authorities and Warwickshire. 
The Christmas holiday dates are different in each option. 
Easter Sunday is at the start of the school Easter holiday in each option.
The Academic year end date depends on the Christmas holiday dates.
Until other West Midlands and Warwickshire Local Authorities have finished their own consultations their final term and holiday dates are unknown.  
 
Coventry City Council is asking for your preference from the three options below. Holiday dates are inclusive.

 

Option 1

Autumn Term 2017

·  Term Starts           Tuesday 5 September 2017 for pupils (Monday 4 September 2017 for teachers)

·  Half Term  Monday 23 October 2017 to Friday 27 October 2017

·  Term Ends             Thursday 21 December 2017

 

Spring Term 2018

·  Term Starts           Monday  8 January 2018

·  Half Term  Monday 19 February 2018 to Friday 23 February 2018

·  Term Ends            Thursday 29 March 2018

 

Summer Term 2018

·  Term Starts           Monday 16 April 2018

·  Half Term  Monday 28 May 2018 to Friday 1 June 2018

·  Term Ends            Wednesday 25 July 2018

 

Option 2

As Option 1 with the following changes:

Autumn Term 2017

·  Term Ends                   Friday 15 December 2017

Spring Term 2018

·  Term Starts  Tuesday 2 January 2018

Summer Term 2018

·  Term Ends                    Wednesday 25 July 2018

·   

Option 3

As Option 1 with the following changes:

Autumn Term 2017

·  Term Ends   Wednesday 20 December 2017

Spring Term 2018

·  Term Starts  Thursday 4 January 2018

Summer Term 2018

·  Term Ends   Tuesday 24 July 2018

These options are shown in calendar format in the supporting document attached.

Should you wish to speak to someone regarding this consultation, please use the below contact details:

Margaret Halpin

Email: Margaret.halpin@coventry.gov.uk or Datateam.PD@coventry.gov.uk

Tel: 02476831581

 

Supporting documents