[Scarlett.]

Long school holidays should be abolished under radical changes to the traditional academic year to stop children falling behind in class, a report has recommended.

Research suggested that pupils lose some of their reading skills during the long summer break, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) said.

The school year could be divided into five eight-week terms with a fortnight's holiday between each, the centre-left think-tank said. This would allow pupils to sustain their education more easily over the course of the year.

The report followed concerns from Ofsted that progress raising educational standards in England has "stalled", with one in five 11-year-olds unable to master the three Rs.

Sonia Sodha, IPPR research fellow and the report's lead author said: "There have been many positive gains in education over the last decade but in recent years results have plateaued.

"If we are serious about continuing to improve outcomes for all children, we need long-term reform that better gears our school system around the needs of children and young people."

The report also called for a new primary school curriculum to be drawn up allowing children more opportunities to learn through play.

Ms Sodha said: "Children's well-being is fundamental to their learning. Schools need more support in developing healthy and happy young people.

Children's Minister Kevin Brennan said the Government encouraged councils to adopt the "standard school year".

He said: "This model sees six terms of equal length, spread evenly across the year. Ultimately however, we leave it up to local authorities who best understand the circumstances in their area."






OH piss off! for gods sake
let kids enjoy summer
let them spend time with family!

[Tom]

Theres a reason for long summer holidays- because its too hot and its hard to work in those conditions.

[Scarlett.]

Aye plus it makes time for children to be
well children
let them have time for fun before they are molded into mindless drones

[Princess]

Your holidays are already TEENSY!

[DamonJ]

If they're serious about improving the education system, forget about the holidays, they are totally fine as they are. Abandon the pointless lessons like RE and PE, take action against the trouble causers who take away people's learning time, encourage people to become teachers and get rid of the poor staff.

[_Tom_]

They've already changed our summer holidays around this year! We have 4 weeks holiday, starting mid July, finishing mid August!

[*mazedsalv**]

This is ridiculous, the whole point of holidays is to relax and have a good time. Even when we have Christmas and Easter holidays off for 2 weeks, we are paraded with homework to do. If its a holiday, there is no point of doing homework over it! Not like we get a lot of time off anyway!

[Legend]

Originally posted by DamonJ
If they're serious about improving the education system, forget about the holidays, they are totally fine as they are. Abandon the pointless lessons like RE and PE, take action against the trouble causers who take away people's learning time, encourage people to become teachers and get rid of the poor staff.

1 hour of P.E is the only exercise some people get, I'd say it's far from pointless.

[supernoodles!]

Originally posted by Legend

1 hour of P.E is the only exercise some people get, I'd say it's far from pointless.

I do think it is unfair to MAKE people do pe though.For some is is a very humiliating experience and many people are bullied because of their appearance whilst in pe lessons or becuase of their athletic ability

[Hugo]

noooooooooo!

[*mazedsalv**]

Originally posted by supernoodles!

I do think it is unfair to MAKE people do pe though.For some is is a very humiliating experience and many people are bullied because of their appearance whilst in pe lessons or becuase of their athletic ability

Thats true. Its very good for you to have exercise but people who aren't that fit peobably wouldnt want to do it because they might have the mick taking out of them, which is horrible.

[Princess]

Originally posted by _Tom_
They've already changed our summer holidays around this year! We have 4 weeks holiday, starting mid July, finishing mid August!

Thats ridiculous! Ireland gets 13 weeks. I havn't figured out my holidays actually,June 12th to about the start of October.Its near 4 months-jesus!

Oh and on the P.E. thing,over here its about 2/3 hours a week,some P.E is needed though-a hour seems fine.

[Legend]

Originally posted by *mazedsalv**

Thats true. Its very good for you to have exercise but people who aren't that fit peobably wouldnt want to do it because they might have the mick taking out of them, which is horrible.

And I might have gotten the mick taken out of me when my science teacher would ask me something about the periodic table and I'd have sat there with a blank face ...

[*mazedsalv**]

Originally posted by Legend

And I might have gotten the mick taken out of me when my science teacher would ask me something about the periodic table and I'd have sat there with a blank face ...

When in science, they ask me something, I start laughing and say "How do you expect me to know!"I dont get embarassed when asked questions I dont know, I just sit there and try guessing every possible answer until the teacher gives up and asks someone else.

[Jake!]

Originally posted by supernoodles!

I do think it is unfair to MAKE people do pe though.For some is is a very humiliating experience and many people are bullied because of their appearance whilst in pe lessons or becuase of their athletic ability

You are right, I was bullied about me not being able to do anything right in P.E. Now I stick up for myself, but before it was horrible.

[*mazedsalv**]

A person in my year gets bullied about that. Everyone takes the mick out of her weight. So I stuck up for her and told everyone that you cant bully someone because there not as good as you! Thats the last time I heard them make a comment about it.

Yay!!I helped! Go me! Go me!!

[Billy]

Originally posted by Legend

And I might have gotten the mick taken out of me when my science teacher would ask me something about the periodic table and I'd have sat there with a blank face ...

Well learn it then. You can learn things in science etc to prevent you getting the mickey taken out of you, some people just cant play sports.

[Jake!]

Originally posted by Billy21

Well learn it then. You can learn things in science etc to prevent you getting the mickey taken out of you, some people just cant play sports.

As uh as I agree, it ain't as simple as how some might think. It took me ages before I could even be a Level 3 Science in Year 9. Now I'm a 6 but it takes time. Itain't as simple as that Billy21, but I understand you.

[Legend]

Originally posted by Billy21

Well learn it then. You can learn things in science etc to prevent you getting the mickey taken out of you, some people just cant play sports.

Well get of your arse and start playing sports then. No, you don't enjoy it, but I didn't enjoy Science either and I had to do it.

Plus, P.E is the only exercise some people get, it has longer term benefits to knowing the periodic table.

Also, 'learning science' is easier said than done.

[MarkWaldorf]

Thank god I left school.

[Sam]

Originally posted by Legend

Well get of your **** and start playing sports then. No, you don't enjoy it, but I didn't enjoy Science either and I had to do it.

Plus, P.E is the only exercise some people get, it has longer term benefits to knowing the periodic table.

Also, 'learning science' is easier said than done.

It's an argument that will never be resolved I think. You just have to do both. People who like PE or are good at PE are more likely to say it's more important. Where as someone who's academically better will say Science is better.

I'd say academic lessons are far more important, because I beleive you go to school to learn, not to play football or rugby. I also think that you're far more likely to get bullied for being chubby and not keeping up in a game than you are for not understanding science. However, I may be biased because I hate P.E.

It may be the only exercise you get, but if they brought more theory into it, I think I'd enjoy it and accept it more because most PE lessons up until GCSE aren't about the human body and exercise theory, it's just games and many people don't see the neccesity of it.

Back to the topic of the subject, I think more frequent holidays would make things worse? You're less likely to keep on track if you keep having two week breaks IMO. But they're the experts...

[Jack_]

This better not happen.

2 weeks in the summer - they can p**s off!

[Conor]

Originally posted by DamonJ
If they're serious about improving the education system, forget about the holidays, they are totally fine as they are. Abandon the pointless lessons like RE and PE, take action against the trouble causers who take away people's learning time, encourage people to become teachers and get rid of the poor staff.

PE isn't pointless!! lol It keeps you fit, we have dead on teachers and you can do whatever sports you want if you ask.

Anyway, bad teachers mean its easier to get away with stuff ect. Just look at yesterday in school. We were doing our end of year exams. Our real form tutor is on holiday. One of my mates got carried away to the point where most of us were almost crying with laughter. He's currently sitting out of the class Another one of my mates wasted about 200 sheets of paper by throwing them across the class with beastly sized rubbers the whole day and I could talk for as long as I wanted and have a general muck about which I find extremely hard not to do. (45% in my last test might explain getting a bit carried away though) Anyway, the 'trouble makers' are just bored and accused for everything. I know because apparently I'm a class 'Ring leader'

On other things shorter holidays, not fair on you guys. I should be safe enough over here though. You's wont be able to go on holiday, have good breaks and generally have fun.