Ofsted Chief Proposes Shifting or Shortening Six-Week Summer Breaks for Schools

AN OFSTED boss has claimed kids are in school for a “ridiculously low percentage” of each year and suggested shortening the summer holidays.

In February last year Sir Martyn Oliver, the chief inspector, pointed out that children only spend 190 out of 365 days a year in .

On Wednesday the chief inspector spoke out again, saying school needed “a good old look at.”

According to the education boss kids, particularly those who were vulnerable or disadvantaged, who take a six-week holiday could face “dysregulation.”

Oliver added that he believes it is time to think about the school holidays, which are currently based around harvests, he said.

The Ofsted boss told the Financial Times : “It’s interesting to think that the holiday period was very much determined around harvesting fields … Some things are pretty bizarre.

“It’s pretty hot usually in May, June and July, just at the point you’re asking children to sit down and take an exam … so I think there is a need to have a good old look at it [the school year].”

In countries like , and there are typically fewer half-term breaks but longer summer holidays.

While most state in have a six-week summer holiday, two weeks at and two weeks at Easter.

There are also three one-week half-term holidays but a growing number of schools are offering a fortnight in October rather than one week.

The Ofsted head branded the timing of the school holidays in the UK as “bizarre.”

Adding to the argument he said if the summer break was shortened kids wouldn’t be forced to take exams during the hottest time of the year.

Experts have previously said there should be a change given the amount of learning that is lost during the six-week summer.

According to Oliver this was particularly a problem among children from less affluent .

On Wednesday he said he was concerned about the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged children.

He also raised concerns around children with access to mobile phones during school hours.

Oliver said children need help from parents and to learn the patience needed to fail and improve.

He said kids should face the “enjoyable difficulty” of studying without the instant gratification offered by .

According to the Ofsted boss it is “ludicrous” to suggest that children needed a screen to learn.

, the education secretary, announced in January that Ofsted would have to monitor how schools were implementing mobile phone policies.

In countries like Ireland, France and Spain there are typically fewer half-term breaksCredit: PA