Decision details

1.

Title of Item/Report

School Term and Holiday Dates for 2027/2028 Academic Year.

2.

Record of the Decision

Consideration was given to a report on the School Term and Holiday Dates for 2027/2028 Academic Year.

The purpose of the report was, following consultation, to present the proposed calendars of school term and holiday dates for 2027/2028 academic year.

School employers were required to set the term dates of their school year.  Employers were:

•           the Local Authority in maintained, voluntary controlled and maintained special schools.

•           the Governing Body in foundation and voluntary aided schools.

•           Multi Academy Trusts, academies and free schools.

In line with statutory requirements and the protocol agreed in 2008, consideration had been given to compile a set of term and holiday dates for schools in the Borough.

Officers consulted with colleagues from all neighbouring authorities to endeavour to reach consensus on a proposed model for the academic year.

Attached as Appendix 1 of the report were the proposed dates for 2027/2028.

As part of the consultation process the document was duly circulated to schools/academies and all other relevant parties, including Diocesan Authorities and Trade Unions/Teaching Associations.  There were no comments received, details were provided at Appendix 2 of the report.

To date the neighbouring authorities that had published their dates had endorsed the proposed matrix for 2027/2028.  This included Hartlepool, Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough.  There was a slight difference to Darlington dates (two days) in that they return on 1 September 2027 and break up on 20 July 2028.  It was proposed that Stockton-on-Tees would return on 2 September 2027 and break up on 21 July 2028 which was in line with all other neighbouring authorities.   This level of agreement between authorities would relieve many of the cross-boundary issues that some families had suffered in the past.

RESOLVED that the school term and holiday dates 2027/2028 shown at Appendix 1 of the report, be agreed.

3.

Reasons for the Decision

To inform all schools and interested parties of the school term and holiday dates for 2027/2028 academic year.

4.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None

5.

Declared (Cabinet Member) Conflicts of Interest

None

6.

Details of any Dispensations

None

7.

Date and Time by which Call In must be executed

Midnight, 24 June 2026