School changes term time to fit with cheaper holidays

A Gloucestershire school has become one of the first in the country to change its term times so parents can take advantage of cheaper holidays.

Severn Vale School in Quedgeley has shortened the summer break by a week and added an extra seven days to the October half term.

The headmaster said the feedback from parents had been largely positive, he added:

It comes after a high court ruling earlier this year which stated parents taking their children out of school for family holidays during term-time can be prosecuted.

The court effectively gave their backing to the government's crackdown on parents taking their children on term-time holidays, back in 2013.

The policy leaves term time dates much to the discretion of headteachers, and it has been applied differently by different schools and councils across the country.

The subject is considered highly controversial, largely because the cost of holidays often doubles during school breaks, tempting many parents to take their children away during term-time.

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