Reducing summer vacation time in schools is currently a hot topic in England. More and more education experts are recommending distributing school breaks more evenly across the year, and some schools are already testing formulas to put this into practice. The goal is to move away from a calendar that has persisted for over a century by shortening the six-week summer break to four weeks. This summer reduction would be paired with longer autumn and spring breaks, with supporters arguing it would provide better rest for both teachers and students throughout the year and reduce the risk of students losing touch during the long summer holidays.
Un estudio apunta que un reparto más equitativo de las vacaciones “facilitaría la planificación y ayudaría a aliviar la fatiga y la presión” de alumnos y profesores
British school holidays currently total 91 days per year, with slight variations by nation. In England, students enjoy six weeks of summer break, two weeks at Christmas, and two weeks across the Easter term, plus three mid-term breaks in October, February, and May.
As more schools consider changing this pattern, some researchers highlight findings on how reducing long summer breaks can improve student performance. A preliminary summary from a study funded by the Nuffield Foundation, a charitable educational organization, suggests that a more even distribution of holidays could help planning and lessen fatigue and pressure on both teachers and students. The main argument is that long pauses can contribute to learning loss, especially for students who are already behind, and may worsen mental health for children aged roughly 7 to 14.
“El desarrollo socioemocional es tan importante como las capacidades cognitivas a la hora de configurar la educación”
Lee Elliot Major, a professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter and one of the study’s authors, notes, “Socioemotional development matters as much as cognitive skills when shaping education and future life prospects for children.” He adds that concerns about student safety are often top of mind for teachers who worry about abuse, neglect, and mental health when holidays stretch on without a break.
Beneficios para los alumnos
One proposal on the table is to extend October’s break from one week to two. This would ease the heavy load of the first term, which many students find the most demanding, and some schools are already testing the approach with encouraging results. Unity Schools Partnership, a group of about thirty primary and secondary schools in England, reports that during the first term this year student absences fell by about 25% compared with the previous year, while teacher absence dropped by around 50%.
Los centros que han ampliado la pausa de octubre han logrado reducir un 25% el absentismo
Tim Coulson, director of the association, explains, “We realized late autumn was the worst period for absence due to germs and illnesses. Extending the term break in the middle of the term helped people feel less tired and less prone to falling ill.”
Durante las pausas, las escuelas organizan actividades para favorecer la conciliación familiar
The success of the measure has led to adopting the same approach again next year after a vote and broad support from parents and teachers. Some parents have voiced concerns about balancing work with children’s vacation schedules, but schools are already addressing this. Coulson notes that centers have organized daytime activities during the extra week so parents can drop off their children while they’re at work. Experts say this also helps distribute child care costs more evenly throughout the year.
Proyecto en Gales
The measure aligns with a Welsh government initiative from late last year to reform the school calendar by reducing summer holidays from six weeks to five in 2026 and eventually to four in subsequent years. The government argues that long summer breaks push autumn term content to be reviewed rather than taught, and teachers report more behavior and stress issues after summer holidays.
Some education unions have voiced concerns about reducing a crucial learning week to a quieter period later, but supporters insist the overall benefits outweigh the drawbacks and add that there would be no extra cost to public administrations.
El horario escolar: de 09.00 a 15.30
In the United Kingdom, schools have autonomy over daily schedules while meeting a minimum of 32.5 hours of instruction per week. Most institutions start around 9:00 a.m., with a mid-morning break around 10:30 and a lunch break near 12:30. The day often ends around 3:30 p.m., though some schools shorten Friday classes and spread those hours across the rest of the week.