Support for shorter summer holiday in Lanarkshire school consultation

dailyrecord.co.uk:

North Lanarkshire families and school staff voted overwhelmingly in favour of shortening the summer holidays in a public consultation over reconfiguring the area’s academic calendar.A record total of more than 9000 people completed the two-week online survey, with 73 per cent supporting a suggestion to reduce the seven-week summer holiday and begin the school year earlier in August.Respondents were largely evenly split between the alternatives – with 39 per cent favouring extended holidays at Christmas and in February, described as a “small majority” ahead of the 36 per cent calling for a longer October half-term.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android Elected members of the council’s education committee will be asked to note a report on the outcome at their meeting next week – and will then receive a finalised proposal for decision at a later date following “further discussion on these outcomes” with neighbouring councils and trade unions.Analysis of the survey responses showed an almost 50/50 split in opinions over the two main options, with teachers narrowly favouring extending the October holiday while a majority of parents chose additional days at Christmas and in February.Nearly 1600 respondents chose “other” as their preferred option – but of those, half did not specify an alternative set-up for