Decision details

The Local Authority is required to consult anually and determine the school dates for Community, Voluntary Controlled, and Community Special Schools under Section 32 of the Education Act 2002.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families approves that the School Calendar for 2018/19 Academic Year fixes an Easter Break in the first 2 weeks of April, as outlined in Appendix A of the report.

It is recommended that Appendix A of the report be approved as the model school calendar for the 2018/19 academic year.  This model fixes Easter at the first two weeks in April 2019.  The calendar applies to all Community schools, Voluntary Controlled Schools and community Special Schools.  Voluntary Aided Schools, Trusts and Academies that are their own Admission Authority are recommended to adopt the model calendar to promote consistency across the City.

It is likely that Church Aided Schools will have their Easter Break around the religious festival.  This has always been the case and Aided Schools will continue to set their own dates at Easter.

The purpose of the consultation was to invite opinion and comment from all stakeholders. There have not been many responses to the proposed calendar, nor has there been any strong opposition to the proposed calendar for 2018/19 which indicates that the support expressed under last year’s consultation continues.

In response to the overwhelming support for fixing the Easter Break during the 2017/18 consultation process the Authority has only consulted on this single model for 2018/19.