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Should schools set their own term dates? Should schools set their own term dates?
(2 months later)
The government announced plans last week to allow schools to set their own term lengths – potentially ending long summer holidays, and risking a free-for -all according to critics. The government announced plans last week to allow schools to set their own term lengths – potentially ending long summer holidays, and risking a free-for -all according to critics.
Stephen Twigg MP, Labour shadow education secretary Stephen Twigg MP, Labour shadow education secretary
One of the biggest challenges we face in our school system is how to narrow the gap between disadvantaged children and other pupils. Research from the Sutton Trust has shown that a poor pupil being taught by a poor teacher can result in them being the equivalent of a year behind other students in their attainment. In a speech two weeks ago I proposed giving the freedom to set term lengths to all schools, because I think it will raise standards. The evidence shows that having an extended break in the middle of the year means many pupils – particularly those from lower-income backgrounds – fall behind, including in reading and mathematics. Around 70% of secondary schools and 30% of primary schools already have responsibility for setting their own term dates.One of the biggest challenges we face in our school system is how to narrow the gap between disadvantaged children and other pupils. Research from the Sutton Trust has shown that a poor pupil being taught by a poor teacher can result in them being the equivalent of a year behind other students in their attainment. In a speech two weeks ago I proposed giving the freedom to set term lengths to all schools, because I think it will raise standards. The evidence shows that having an extended break in the middle of the year means many pupils – particularly those from lower-income backgrounds – fall behind, including in reading and mathematics. Around 70% of secondary schools and 30% of primary schools already have responsibility for setting their own term dates.
The David Young Community Academy in Leeds operates a seven-term year that starts in June. The basic pattern is a maximum of six weeks at school followed by a maximum of four weeks' holiday. Ros McMullen, the headteacher, argues that shorter terms and shorter holidays can improve results. She says: "It buys us additional time. By the time other Year 7 students start, ours have had 10 weeks of secondary education. It is a more intelligent way of working."If this system can raise standards in academies and free schools, why not extend that freedom to all schools?The David Young Community Academy in Leeds operates a seven-term year that starts in June. The basic pattern is a maximum of six weeks at school followed by a maximum of four weeks' holiday. Ros McMullen, the headteacher, argues that shorter terms and shorter holidays can improve results. She says: "It buys us additional time. By the time other Year 7 students start, ours have had 10 weeks of secondary education. It is a more intelligent way of working."If this system can raise standards in academies and free schools, why not extend that freedom to all schools?
Kevin Courtney, deputy general secretary of the National Union of Teachers Kevin Courtney, deputy general secretary of the National Union of Teachers
Of course we all want to narrow the gap between disadvantaged children and others. But we mustn't confuse hours spent in the classroom with educational attainment. Finland has the smallest such achievement gap and has much longer summer holidays than we do. Pupils in England spend more time in the classroom than most other countries and many countries that perform better than us in Pisa [Programme for International Student Assessment] tables enjoy longer holidays than the UK.Of course we all want to narrow the gap between disadvantaged children and others. But we mustn't confuse hours spent in the classroom with educational attainment. Finland has the smallest such achievement gap and has much longer summer holidays than we do. Pupils in England spend more time in the classroom than most other countries and many countries that perform better than us in Pisa [Programme for International Student Assessment] tables enjoy longer holidays than the UK.
There are initiatives that have shown they can help close the gap. London Challengecorrect, which you led for Labour in the last Parliament, had a significant effect, without either privatising education or cutting summer holidays and we would like you to spend more time talking about that. It is well known that poverty is a major factor in pupil performance. Labour had gone some way to tackling child poverty and we would like to you to pledge to do more on that if re-elected.There are initiatives that have shown they can help close the gap. London Challengecorrect, which you led for Labour in the last Parliament, had a significant effect, without either privatising education or cutting summer holidays and we would like you to spend more time talking about that. It is well known that poverty is a major factor in pupil performance. Labour had gone some way to tackling child poverty and we would like to you to pledge to do more on that if re-elected.
Leaving the decisions on term times in the hands of individual schools will lead to chaos. Many parents and carers could end up having children at two or more schools with different term dates. It is just obvious that they should be locally co-ordinated to avoid these difficulties. With your proposals you might actually see standards slip as primary parents take their children out of school during term time so they can take a family holiday with their older brother or sister at a nearby secondary.Leaving the decisions on term times in the hands of individual schools will lead to chaos. Many parents and carers could end up having children at two or more schools with different term dates. It is just obvious that they should be locally co-ordinated to avoid these difficulties. With your proposals you might actually see standards slip as primary parents take their children out of school during term time so they can take a family holiday with their older brother or sister at a nearby secondary.
ST: I agree with you that it's not just about hours in the classroom – our plans wouldn't necessarily lead to more hours, but they could be arranged differently to avoid the long, drawn-out summer.ST: I agree with you that it's not just about hours in the classroom – our plans wouldn't necessarily lead to more hours, but they could be arranged differently to avoid the long, drawn-out summer.
Of course, many factors are at work in raising attainment; addressing poverty and inequality plays an important part. In addition to schools changing term lengths, I want to see a major effort, including from local councils, to address the issue of pupils falling behind in the summer.Of course, many factors are at work in raising attainment; addressing poverty and inequality plays an important part. In addition to schools changing term lengths, I want to see a major effort, including from local councils, to address the issue of pupils falling behind in the summer.
Tower Hamlets, a Labour council, has one of the best records in the country for closing the educational gap, and does so with schemes such as Futureversity, which provides learning programmes for children aged 11 and upwards during the school holidays. London Challenge helped close the gap, and schools in London are now outperforming the rest of the country.Tower Hamlets, a Labour council, has one of the best records in the country for closing the educational gap, and does so with schemes such as Futureversity, which provides learning programmes for children aged 11 and upwards during the school holidays. London Challenge helped close the gap, and schools in London are now outperforming the rest of the country.
You raise the prospect of "chaos". I disagree. I think it's right to trust schools and parents, but unlike Michael Gove I think there's a good argument for some form of local co-ordination. In Nottingham, the local council shifted to a shorter summer holiday. The changes were agreed across all maintained schools after lengthy discussions and agreement with the teaching unions. I trust head teachers to act in the best interest of pupils. Many schools are already doing this and we should ensure all schools have the same opportunity.You raise the prospect of "chaos". I disagree. I think it's right to trust schools and parents, but unlike Michael Gove I think there's a good argument for some form of local co-ordination. In Nottingham, the local council shifted to a shorter summer holiday. The changes were agreed across all maintained schools after lengthy discussions and agreement with the teaching unions. I trust head teachers to act in the best interest of pupils. Many schools are already doing this and we should ensure all schools have the same opportunity.
KC: I know why Michael Gove wants deregulation. He wants to open schools up to the free market and to prepare the ground for full privatisation. Stephen, you should not follow him down the deregulatory road. You say you want both some form of local co-ordination and to let headteachers make individual decisions over term times – but these are in fatal contradiction. In Nottingham the process was fraught, in part because proposals would have led to different holidays in academies, voluntary aided and community schools – and different holidays in schools in the city and in the surrounding areas.KC: I know why Michael Gove wants deregulation. He wants to open schools up to the free market and to prepare the ground for full privatisation. Stephen, you should not follow him down the deregulatory road. You say you want both some form of local co-ordination and to let headteachers make individual decisions over term times – but these are in fatal contradiction. In Nottingham the process was fraught, in part because proposals would have led to different holidays in academies, voluntary aided and community schools – and different holidays in schools in the city and in the surrounding areas.
We only reached an acceptable agreement after much parental disquiet and several days of strike action by NUT members. We really should not repeat that country-wide.We only reached an acceptable agreement after much parental disquiet and several days of strike action by NUT members. We really should not repeat that country-wide.
Summer holidays are, however, an important area for government to focus on. The wide disparities in wealth in the UK become more apparent when some parents can afford holidays away with their children, pay for summer camps, manage day trips to museums, while others cannot even afford to take time off work. School buildings could be used in the summer to provide activities that can help close the gap, such as Futureversity – but we need both funding and strong local co-ordination to ensure this happens.Summer holidays are, however, an important area for government to focus on. The wide disparities in wealth in the UK become more apparent when some parents can afford holidays away with their children, pay for summer camps, manage day trips to museums, while others cannot even afford to take time off work. School buildings could be used in the summer to provide activities that can help close the gap, such as Futureversity – but we need both funding and strong local co-ordination to ensure this happens.
Labour should point to its record on alleviating some of the problems. For example, the schools sports partnerships providing summer activities and Sure Start provided support to parents. But both have now been massively curtailed as a result of coalition cuts.Labour should point to its record on alleviating some of the problems. For example, the schools sports partnerships providing summer activities and Sure Start provided support to parents. But both have now been massively curtailed as a result of coalition cuts.
ST: I want to build on Labour's record, which David Cameron and Michael Gove are undermining, and ensure all children achieve their full potential. We disagree on term dates, but we both want to close the gap. Can I suggest three areas where we might agree?ST: I want to build on Labour's record, which David Cameron and Michael Gove are undermining, and ensure all children achieve their full potential. We disagree on term dates, but we both want to close the gap. Can I suggest three areas where we might agree?
First, the quality of teaching and leadership matters most. As well as expanding Teach First, I want to strengthen training and development through a new College of Teaching, and incentivise trainees to teach in poorer communities or challenging schools. Michael Gove has driven down staff morale and is allowing more unqualified teachers in classrooms.First, the quality of teaching and leadership matters most. As well as expanding Teach First, I want to strengthen training and development through a new College of Teaching, and incentivise trainees to teach in poorer communities or challenging schools. Michael Gove has driven down staff morale and is allowing more unqualified teachers in classrooms.
Second, there are parts of our country where schools are failing poorer children. I want to learn from the regional challenges that Labour set up in London, the Black Country and Manchester to see how we can drive up standards everywhere.Second, there are parts of our country where schools are failing poorer children. I want to learn from the regional challenges that Labour set up in London, the Black Country and Manchester to see how we can drive up standards everywhere.
Third, if freedoms given to academies and free schools have raised standards, such as on the curriculum and procurement, then they should be extended to all schools. While Michael Gove spreads fragmentation and chaos, we want to give local communities and parents a greater role in driving up standards in all schools.Third, if freedoms given to academies and free schools have raised standards, such as on the curriculum and procurement, then they should be extended to all schools. While Michael Gove spreads fragmentation and chaos, we want to give local communities and parents a greater role in driving up standards in all schools.
KC: We can certainly agree that the quality of teaching is of vital importance. You yourself, Stephen, have pointed out the looming crisis of teacher shortages, which will result in larger class sizes and more children being taught by unqualified staff. Reducing tuition fees will help address the shortage, as will ending the undermining of teachers' pay, pensions and conditions, never mind the almost daily criticism of the profession by government and Ofsted.KC: We can certainly agree that the quality of teaching is of vital importance. You yourself, Stephen, have pointed out the looming crisis of teacher shortages, which will result in larger class sizes and more children being taught by unqualified staff. Reducing tuition fees will help address the shortage, as will ending the undermining of teachers' pay, pensions and conditions, never mind the almost daily criticism of the profession by government and Ofsted.
Other high-performing countries give teachers much more influence, responsibility and trust over both curriculum and assessment. So giving schools more control over the curriculum – inside a national framework – could be very positive. But if in practice the curriculum is led by high-stakes testing, this freedom might turn out to be quite limited. I hope Labour can engage the profession for a serious discussion of these matters.Other high-performing countries give teachers much more influence, responsibility and trust over both curriculum and assessment. So giving schools more control over the curriculum – inside a national framework – could be very positive. But if in practice the curriculum is led by high-stakes testing, this freedom might turn out to be quite limited. I hope Labour can engage the profession for a serious discussion of these matters.
It is by trusting teachers and valuing teaching as a profession that we will once again make it an attractive choice for graduates and will achieve the best education system for all our children.It is by trusting teachers and valuing teaching as a profession that we will once again make it an attractive choice for graduates and will achieve the best education system for all our children.
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