UNION officials have met with the council’s education spokesman for crunch talks on controversial proposals to shake-up the school holidays.
Barnsley Council’s plan to change the dates for the 2018/19 academic year follows a U-turn earlier this year on ditching the traditional long summer break in favour of having five weeks in summer and an extra week in October. It was abandoned amid a wave of criticism that teachers and parents had not been properly consulted.
Schools, parents and unions have been asked to give their views on three options being considered for 2018/19 during a six week consultation that ends today. The results will be analysed before being considered by senior councillors in February.
The council’s preferred choice is to shorten the summer break. The other two options are to keep the existing timetable or to fix the Easter break on an annual basis.
Members of the National Union of Teachers in Barnsley believe the council’s preferred option will cause chaos for schools and parents.
Read more in this weeks Barnsley Chronicle
