Two-week half-term – top class or no brass?

As half-term draws to an end, some kids will have been at home for the traditional one week, but a significant number will have been off school for a fortnight. This is because increasingly, schools across England are switching to a two-week October half-term. While the idea of a longer break might appeal to teachers and pupils, not all parents are convinced, especially those already feeling the financial squeeze.

The rise of the fortnight break

Until recently, most schools gave pupils just one week off in October. But now, an increasing number are extending the holiday to a fortnight, with Nottinghamshire County Council leading the way in 2019.

Schools say the change gives teachers a well-earned rest and helps families find cheaper holidays by avoiding the peak half-term rush. To make up for the lost teaching time, some are shaving a week off the summer holidays or adding a few extra minutes to the end of each school day.

Bargain holidays… or not?

One argument for the two-week break is that it helps spread out demand for holidays, easing prices for those lucky enough to travel. According to Chase Bank, flights for a family of four to Spain cost nearly £1,000 during the main half-term week - but just £191 the week after.

However, experts warn that travel companies are quick to adapt. Paul Scott from My Budget Break points out that tour operators often extend their peak pricing to cover “shoulder weeks” too, so the savings might not last long.

Does it boost wellbeing?

Supporters of the longer half term say it’s about more than just rest. Some schools report higher attendance and better health outcomes since introducing the change. Sarah Garner from Unity Schools Partnership says:

“We found the term leading up to Christmas was a factor in staff and student absence, so we decided to trial a two-week half-term to see if it would make a difference. Since we introduced this, we have seen a significant upturn in attendance levels for staff and students.”

And many parents seem to agree. A survey by Parentkind earlier this year found almost half would like all half-terms to be two weeks long.

The price parents pay

But not everyone’s celebrating. For many parents, especially those juggling shift work or zero-hour contracts, the longer break brings extra stress.

Our director of external relations, Sebrina McCullough, says:

“When children are not in school, parents face increased food and energy costs while also having to keep them entertained. We also see increasing stress among single parents and those working zero-hour or shift-based jobs, who have very little flexibility. And for families with children in different schools, managing mismatched holiday dates can be a logistical nightmare and make arranging shared childcare even harder.”

And with childcare costs already sky-high, that extra week off can come with a hefty price tag. Coram, the children’s charity, says a week of holiday childcare now costs an average of £179.

To make matters worse, nearly a quarter of holiday clubs don’t even open during half-terms, and those that do may only run for one week. For families on low incomes, a two-week half-term also means another week without access to free school meals.

The straw that breaks the camel's back

So maybe, if the two-week half-term is to remain a permanent fixture for a significant number of schools across the UK, we need to provide additional support for low-income households. Or it could be that having the kids at home for an extra week proves to be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for hard-pressed parents.