Ofsted chief Sir Martyn Oliver noted children are only in school for 190 days each year when holidays and teacher training days are excluded – asking “is that long enough?”
Britain’s chief schools inspector says it’s time to think about shortening the summer holidays.
Ofsted chief Sir Martyn Oliver noted children are only in school for 190 days each year when holidays and teacher training days are excluded.
“I think 190 days of children going in out of 365 – I think the question should be ‘is that long enough’?” he told LBC Radio.
Sir Martyn said the six-week summer holiday can cause “dysregulation” in pupils – where children slip out of their routines and discipline – particularly those who are vulnerable or disadvantaged.
“After a six-week holiday in the summer, that is when you’re often dealing with – we call it ‘dysregulation’ – when pupils are out of the routine of attending school regularly,” he said.
“Once you have a big break, it makes it quite difficult.
“I think it probably is time to think about school holidays again. Some areas of the country have got slightly shorter summer holidays and equalled out the holidays so that you don’t go one week, two weeks, six weeks.”
The Tory government considered shortening the summer holidays as part of the Covid-19 catch-up plan, but the measure was ditched.
But there have long been calls to use the measure to mitigate the lingering effects of the pandemic on young people.
Sir Martyn also said he supports plans to install “knife arch” metal detectors in schools amid a rise in stabbing attacks.
“I’m a real big believer in headteachers having the autonomy and the freedom to make the decisions that’s right for them,” he said.
“And if a headteacher decides that they need to put that in place, then they should work with their community, work with their parents and make sure that they can keep children safe the best way that they think.”
