Issue - meetings

The Board received a report that set out the statutory requirements for the Local Authority in determining school term and holiday dates and set out some of the issues faced when seeking to determine term/holiday dates.

It was reported that under Section 32 of the Education Act 2002, the Local Authority (LA), being the employer, shall determine the dates when school terms and holidays are to begin and end for community and voluntary controlled schools. 

The principles for term time setting were outlined in the report and noted and supported by Members.  It was announced that the LA was proposing to consult community and voluntary controlled schools during Autumn Term 2017 on proposed dates for 2019/20 and if the schools valued this approach, it would be considered for subsequent years.  It was noted that although it would not be possible to satisfy all those that were affected by term dates; a consensus would be reached.

Further to Members’ queries it was noted that free schools and academies were required to notify the LA of their holidays and to publish these in advance on their websites, which they did do.  Members commented that this year’s Christmas and New Year holiday dates were too early.  It was reported that these could not be changed now, however, it was suggested that this could be avoided in the future.

RESOLVED:  That the Board supports the principles for setting term times as set out in the report.