Mixed reaction to October half-term extension plan for Unity Schools Partnership, including Bury St Edmunds County Upper, Sybil Andrews Academy and Abbots Green Academy

An academy trust’s proposal to increase the October half-term break by a week across all of its schools has been a talking point, with mixed reaction from parents.

Unity Schools Partnership is asking parents and carers what they think of its proposal to extend the October half term at the schools, which includes around 30 in Suffolk.

This includes Bury St Edmunds County High School, Sybil Andrews Academy, Abbots Green Academy and Tollgate Primary School, all in Bury.

Each school has been asked to consider how they will make up the time during the rest of the academic year. Abbots Green is proposing to add 10 minutes to the end of each school day, while County High School is suggesting adding five minutes to the start and five minutes to the end.

Unity has said the proposal could decrease pupil and staff absence at this time of year, when viruses are prevalent, and would support recruitment of the best staff, with an added benefit being a more affordable holiday during the second week.

However, on social media people questioned whether they would really be able to get a cheaper holiday and what an extra 10 minutes per school day could achieve.

Nikki Harvey, who has children at two Unity schools, said: “It’s also not fair on parents who now have to find the extra time off work when it’s hard enough already; with the recent cost-of-living crisis people can’t afford more time off nor can some families afford the extra costs of having the children at home extra days a week!”

She also mentioned the impact on vulnerable children for whom school is an escape, and added for some youngsters a school meal is the only one they get a day.

Emily Buckingham said on the Bury Free Press Facebook page: “I would understand the thinking behind it if they considered taking a week from the six weeks holidays but to add 10 minutes on a day isn’t going to make a difference to the children’s educations!”

An Abbots Green parent, who wished not to be named, said: “I know it’s not an ideal situation, particularly for many working parents, however the autumn term is always a challenge health-wise for children, teachers and parents, so an extra week’s rest might be beneficial to everyone.”

She said if there was an opportunity to take a cheaper family break without her daughter missing out on her education or the family risking a fine then she was in favour of the change.

An extra 10 minutes at the end of the school day would also mean she wouldn’t have to rush so much to get from work to school, she said.

The consultation closes on Monday.