When Unity Schools Partnership decided to double the length of its half-term break last autumn, it was hoping to improve attendance and staff wellbeing. But Tim Coulson, the trust’s chief executive, said he was “blown away” by the positive results.
The Suffolk-based trust found that pupil absences for illness fell 25% and staff absences fell by 50% after it extended the autumn half-term holiday by a week at 31 of its primary and secondary schools.
“When we looked at absence, for children or staff, late November was our worst time in terms of schools being places that harbour germs and everybody going down with the latest flu or bug going around. And that was even before Covid,” Coulson said.
“There was a sense that people in late November just seemed to collapse, and we wanted to know if that was inevitable or was it weariness making people more susceptible? If we could manage the term better, would we reduce that?”
The number of families taking unauthorised holidays during term-time also fell. But the sharp drop in staff absences was the biggest surprise.
“I was blown away. I was hoping we’d have fewer absences because that would make a good case [for continuing] but I was staggered by 50%,” Coulson said.
“The most difficult thing for children is when their teacher is away. We try hard to get cover, whether it’s internally or getting a supply teacher in, but with the best will in the world there’s nothing as good for children’s learning than having their normal teacher.”
In surveys done by the trust, the decision was supported by a large majority of teachers even though it meant they would have to work longer hours over the rest of year, with extended school days to make up for the extra week.
Opinion among parents was more divided, although after the trial 58% said they would support making the change permanent, which the trust has now done.
“It’s something parents feel quite strongly about, either they are very for it or against it. But what we are saying is that, on balance, if it helps us keep great staff given the current recruitment issues, it’s probably the best thing we can do for our children and our schools,” Coulson said.
The strongest opposition came from parents with young children, concerned about finding childcare during the longer break. “The big thing we are hoping to do in response is to work much harder on offering additional childcare in the second week of the half-term. We did a bit last year and got a lot of take-up but we are going to do it in a more substantial way,” Coulson said.
Coulson said he would support “a complete rethink” of the school calendar, including more regions taking holidays at different times to reduce the steep rise in prices charged at peak times by travel companies.
“In terms of something really radical we’d love to see it. But don’t underestimate the challenge of getting buy-in to do it,” Coulson said.
