THE boss of Ofsted has claimed kids are in school for a “ridiculously low percentage” of each year and suggested shortening the summer holidays.
Chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver pointed out in February last year that children only spend 190 out of 365 days a year in school.
On Wednesday he spoke out again, saying school holidays needed “a good old look at.”
According to the education boss, kids – particularly those who were vulnerable or disadvantaged – could face “dysregulation” as a result of who the six-week summer holiday.
Sir Martyn added that he believes it is time to think about the timing of school holidays – which were originally intended to coincide with harvests and the historic need for children to assist with farming.
The Ofsted boss told the Financial Times: “It’s interesting to think that the holiday period was very much determined around harvesting fields … Some things are pretty bizarre.
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“It’s pretty hot usually in May, June and July, just at the point you’re asking children to sit down and take an exam … so I think there is a need to have a good old look at it [the school year].”
In countries like Ireland, France and Spain there are typically fewer half-term breaks but longer summer holidays.
Most state schools in England have asix-week summer holiday, two weeks at Christmas and two weeks at Easter.
There are also three one-week half-term holidays – although a growing number of schools arenow offering a fortnight in October rather than one week.
The Ofsted head branded the timing of the school holidays in the UK as “bizarre.”
Adding to the argument he said if the summer break was shortened kids wouldn’t be forced to take exams during the hottest time of the year.
Experts have previously said there should be a change given the amount of learning that is lost during the six-week summer.
According to Sir Martyn this was particularly a problem among children from less affluent homes.
On Wednesday he said he was concerned about the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged children.
He also raised concerns around children with access to mobile phones during school hours.
Sir Martyn said children need help from parents and teachers to learn the patience needed to fail and improve.
He said kids should face the “enjoyable difficulty” of studying without the instant gratification offered by technology.
And he added it is “ludicrous” to suggest that children needed a screen to learn.
Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, announced in January that Ofsted would have to monitor how schools were implementing mobile phone policies.
