Decision details

The purpose of this report is to ask the cabinet member to agree the school term and holiday dates for 2018/19 for Wiltshire’s Community, Voluntary Controlled and Community Special Schools.

I have taken into account the views of those responding to the consultation, the opinions of the Joint Consultative Committee, and the views of members. I approve the 195 day calendar for School Term & Holiday Dates for 2018/19 as shown in Option 1.

This Decision was published on Monday 10 April 2017 and will come into force on Thursday 20 April 2017.

As dictated by Section 32 of the Education Act 2002, the local authority is responsible for determining the term dates for all community, voluntary controlled or community special schools in Wiltshire.

Option 1:  Shows a proposed calendar with a seven day October break, with term 6 ending on Thursday the 25th July.

Option 2: Shows a proposed calendar with a five day break in October, with term 6 ending on Tuesday the 23rd July.

A protocol for the setting of school term & holiday dates has been endorsed by the Teachers Joint Consultative Committee and County Secretaries (see Appendix A). In line with the recommendations set out in this protocol, two 195 term day calendars were proposed for consultation.

Consultations with schools, neighbouring authorities, members, public and other interested parties were completed (see Appendix B).

The responses to the consultation are summarised in Appendix C. The Teachers Joint Consultative Committee and County Secretaries considered these findings at its meeting on 16^th March and confirm their support for the recommended school term and holiday dates for Wiltshire’s Community, Voluntary Controlled and Community Special Schools detailed in Option 1.