Plans to change school terms ditched after public consultation

North Lanarkshire Council proposed two different changes to school calendars, which prompted more than 22,000 responses.

Plans to change school terms in North Lanarkshire ditched after public consultation — North Lanarkshire: Parents and carers were asked about proposed changes to the school calendar. iStock

Neil McGrory, Local Democracy Reporter

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Proposed changes to school terms in North Lanarkshire will not be implemented as a popular consultation exercise showed strong support for the current arrangements.

The council gathered opinions on two proposals for school calendars, with the first option being similar to the status quo including the September weekend, one week in October, and a Monday and Tuesday holiday for the
February mid-term break.

The other option proposed one day less at the September weekend, two weeks holiday in October, and a Friday/Monday holiday for the February mid-term break. This would also see the February in-set day moved to January and holidays were reduced in December, April and May.

The council employed various methods to maximise the number of responses gathered during the consultation, including messages to all parents, carers and staff, posts on social media, emails to subscribers of school topics, information on the council website and reminders in the Education and Families weekly bulletin.

As a result of this work more than 22,000 responses were received, more than double that of the previous consultation, with more than two thirds of these coming from parents and carers.

Of those respondents, 66% said they preferred the first option and the council’s education committee unanimously agreed to implement it.