Full Council notes that:
1. The Cabinet decided on 15th July 2021 to reverse a previous in principle, and communicated decision, which had already approved the calendar for School Term Dates for the academic year 2022-23, with new dates which included a reversion to a one-week October half-term.
2. This decision was taken following conversations with some headteachers, but not with any parents or students or directly with any other school staff.
Full Council recognises that:
3. Whilst there are different views as to the merits of this change, the two week October half term was brought in following an extensive consultation. Whilst it still remains possible to now reverse the July decision for the 2022-23 academic year, as schools and families will already have started to plan based on this calendar of School Term Dates, it would be more prudent to leave it as is for this year.
4. It is, however, regrettable that there was not wider consultation, to include parents and students ahead of this decision – particularly the scrapping of the two-week October half-term.
5. Many families will have recently enjoyed the many benefits offered by the two-week October half-term, which they will now not be able to do next year.
6. There is merit in looking again at the structure of School Term Dates for subsequent academic years (2023-24 onwards), and an opportunity should be provided for parents, students and other school staff (as well as headteachers) to offer their views directly to the Council, ahead of a decision.
FullCouncil therefore requests that:
7. The relevant Cabinet Member will bring a paper to Cabinet early in 2022 setting out how the Council intends to undertake a meaningful consultation with relevant stakeholders on future School Term Dates (2023-24 onwards).
8. Any such consultation should ensure that stakeholders are given a genuine choice between different options, including one which includes a reversion to a two-week October half term. Views should be sought as to the pros and cons of the different options, looking at both education and other reasons such as wellbeing and quality of life.
9. The feedback received from this consultation is taken into account ahead of any Cabinet decision to approve a calendar for School Term Dates for the academic year 2023-24
Minutes:
Cllr Brading moved the following amended motion which was duly seconded:
Full Council notes that:
1. The Cabinet decided on 15th July 2021 to reverse a previous in principle, and communicated decision, which had already approved the calendar for School Term Dates for the academic year 2022-23, with new dates which included a reversion to a one-week October half-term.
2. This decision was taken following conversations with some head teachers, but not with any parents or students or directly with any other school staff.
Full Council recognises that:
3. Whilst there are different views as to the merits of this change, the two-week October half term was brought in following an extensive consultation. Whilst it still remains possible to now reverse the July decision for the 2022-23 academic year, as schools and families will already have started to plan based on this calendar of School Term Dates, it would be more prudent to leave it as is for this year.
4. It is, however, regrettable that there was not wider consultation, to include parents and students ahead of this decision – particularly the scrapping of the two-week October half-term.
5. Many families will have recently enjoyed the many benefits offered by the two-week October half-term, which they will now not be able to do next year.
6. There is merit in looking again at the structure of School Term Dates for subsequent academic years (2023-24 onwards), and an opportunity should be provided for parents, students and other school staff (as well as headteachers) to offer their views directly to the Council, ahead of a decision.
Full Council therefore requests that:
7. The relevant Cabinet Member will bring a paper to Cabinet early in 2022 setting out how the Council intends to undertake an urgent meaningful consultation with relevant stakeholders on future School Term Dates (2023-24 onwards).
8. Any such consultation should ensure that stakeholders are given a genuine choice between different options, including one which includes a reversion to a two-week October half term. Views should be sought as to the pros and cons of the different options, looking at both education and other reasons such as wellbeing and quality of life.
9. The feedback from this consultation is taken into account in advance of the Cabinet decision currently planned for the 10th March, which may well now need re-scheduling, to approve a calendar for School Term Dates for the academic year 2023-24.
Cllr Andre moved the following amendments to the motion which was duly seconded:
Full Council notes that:
1. The Cabinet decided on 15th July 2021 to reverse a previous in principle, and communicated decision, which had already approved the calendar for School Term Dates for the academic year 2022-23, with new dates which included a reversion to a one-week October half-term.
2.This decision was taken having written out to schools following a briefing at the headteachers conference. All schools were written to on 17 June 2021 and given until 22 June 2021 to reply. There were 31 responses. Unions were also consulted.
Full Council recognises that:
6.There is merit in looking again at the structure of School Term Dates for subsequent academic years (2023-24 onwards), and an opportunity will be provided for parents, students and other school staff and their unions (as well as headteachers) to offer their views directly to the Council, ahead of a decision.
Full Council notes that:
7. The relevant Cabinet Member is due to bring a paper to Cabinet in March 2022, as set out in the current Forward Plan, setting out the outcomes and recommendations of the consultation already carried out with relevant stakeholders on future School Term Dates (2023-24 onwards) for decision.
8. However a wider consultation will now take place, ensuring that stakeholders are given a genuine choice between different options, including one which includes a reversion to a two-week October term. Views will be sought as to the pros and cons of the different options, looking at both education and other factors such as wellbeing and quality of life.
9. The feedback received from this wider consultation will be taken into account ahead of any Cabinet decision to approve a calendar for School Term Dates for the academic year 2023-24, which will necessitate the deferment of the paper until the May 2022 Cabinet meeting.
NB – paragraphs 3-5 of the original motion were removed.
A vote was taken on Cllr Andre’s amendment the result of which was:
RESOLVED:
THAT the amendment was carried.
A vote was taken on the substantive motion, the result of which was:
RESOLVED:
Full Council notes that:
1.The Cabinet decided on 15th July 2021 to reverse a previous in principle, and communicated decision, which had already approved the calendar for School Term Dates for the academic year 2022-23, with new dates which included a reversion to a one-week October half-term.
2.This decision was taken having written out to schools following a briefing at the headteachers conference. All schools were written to on 17 June 2021 and given until 22 June 2021 to reply. There were 31 responses. Unions were also consulted.
Full Council recognises that:
3. There is merit in looking again at the structure of School Term Dates for subsequent academic years (2023-24 onwards), and an opportunity will be provided for parents, students and other school staff and their unions (as well as headteachers) to offer their views directly to the Council, ahead of a decision.
Full Council notes that:
4. The relevant Cabinet Member is due to bring a paper to Cabinet in March 2022, as set out in the current Forward Plan, setting out the outcomes and recommendations of the consultation already carried out with relevant stakeholders on future School Term Dates (2023-24 onwards) for decision.
5. However a wider consultation will now take place, ensuring that stakeholders are given a genuine choice between different options, including one which includes a reversion to a two-week October term. Views will be sought as to the pros and cons of the different options, looking at both education and other factors such as wellbeing and quality of life.
6. The feedback received from this wider consultation will be taken into account ahead of any Cabinet decision to approve a calendar for School Term Dates for the academic year 2023-24, which will necessitate the deferment of the paper until the May 2022 Cabinet meeting.