To consider approving the calendar for school terms and holidays for community and voluntary controlled schools for the following years:

School Term Dates 2020-21
School Term Dates 2021-22
School Term Dates 2022-23
School Term Dates 2023-24

That the proposed school term and holiday dates for 2020-2021 and 2021-22 for community and voluntary controlled schools as attached to this Record of Decision be approved.

It is a legal requirement for the Local Authority, as admission authority, to set term dates for community and voluntary controlled schools.  Our consultation covered a four year schedule following on from discussions with neighbour authorities.  However, Devon County Council decided to consult on a two year schedule due to perceived difficulties when setting dates so far ahead.  Most of the negative comments to our consultation related to the latter two years in the schedule.  New guidance regarding the setting of term dates is also expected from the Department for Education (DFE) and it is therefore felt to be prudent to remain with setting term dates for a two year period.  This is in line with previous practice within this authority.

Of the eight responses received to the consultation, there were no negative responses to the dates set for the 2020-21 academic year and only one received in respect of the 2021-22 academic year.

The proposed dates mirror as far as possible the dates being set by Devon County Council to minimise cross boundary conflicts for parents and staff.  Length of terms have been made as even as possible, given the placing of public holidays.  Full weeks have been set where possible to reduce the likelihood of parents taking children out of school during term time.

Failure to set the term dates would result in the authority being in breach of a statutory duty.

This decision will come into force and may be implemented on 8 March 2019 (unless the call-in process is triggered as set out in the Standing Orders – Overview and Scrutiny).

Community and voluntary controlled schools are required to provide 190 days each year for teaching pupils.  5 additional days have been included in the calendar for staff training.  This gives the schools a degree of flexibility to meet local priorities.

The following officers of the Council, individuals and organisations were consulted:

Unions, Dioceses, all Schools and Academies, neighbouring Local Authorities and Council Officers (Head of Education, Learning and Skills and HR).

None