HEADTEACHERS on the Isle of Wight have been granted their wish of a two-week break over Christmas.

The school term dates for 2022/23 have been set, with an extra week added at Christmas, which will ensure three weekends and two weeks of holiday over the festive period.

It means the Island will revert to having just one week at the October half-term.

The two-week autumn half term was introduced in the 2019/20 school year hoping to improve the attendance of pupils during the middle of the autumn term.

It has been met with mixed reactions from schools, with some arguing it should be scrapped.

One secondary school said it should be reviewed, as there was sparse evidence anything had changed.

Instead, some schools asked for a two-week Christmas break.

During the first feedback on the 2022/23 dates, logged back in January, Mark Snow, writing on behalf of the Isle of Wight's Headteacher Forum said it was disappointing to see that their request for a two week Christmas break had not been taken into account.

It led to a second consultation, launched in June, said Cllr Debbie Andre, cabinet member for children's education, speaking at a meeting of the Isle of Wight Council's cabinet last night (Thursday).

Of the 31 responses received, 23 supported the extended Christmas break with 14 of those wanting to return to the pattern used by other local authorities, with a one-week October break.

One said all staff wanted to have a longer Christmas holiday and that two weeks off in the middle of the autumn term had been disruptive to teaching and learning.

Earlier in the week, the council's corporate scrutiny committee recommended more consultation be carried out over the term dates with parents, as the idea of having a different week at another time had once been popular.

On Thursday night, Cllr Andre said there was an expectation that schools would consult with parents.

The administration is confident education providers are in the best place to gather information, with the majority view of schools being recommended to be implemented, she said.

The term dates were agreed unanimously and are as follows from September 2022:

  • Autumn term: starts Thursday, September 1 and ends on Friday, December 16 (Half term from Monday, October 24 to Friday, October 28)
  • Spring term: starts Tuesday, January 3 2023 and ends on Friday, March 31 (Half term from Monday, February 13 to Friday, February 17)
  • Summer term: starts Monday, April 17 and ends on Friday, July 21 (Half term from Monday, May 29 to Friday, June 2)

Read the changes made to the 2021/22 school calendar.