Longer October half-term for Isle of Wight

Isle of Wight schoolchildren will have a two week October half-term holiday once again, following extensive consultation.

The move was approved by the Isle of Wight Council’s cabinet last night (Thursday).

They had originally changed the school term dates, last July, to a one week holiday.

It means this October (2022), pupils will only have a one week holiday with a longer break at Christmas but revert back to two weeks in October 2023.

The two-week October half term holiday was first introduced in 2019 to improve pupils’ attendance during the autumn term – but got a mixed reaction.

The move back to a one week break was also criticised for a lack of consultation.

Cllr Debbie Andre, cabinet member for education, said they had carried out consultation after recognising a need for it, ready to set the term dates for the 2023/24 school year.

More than 3,250 people responded to the council’s consultation with 57 per cent supporting the two-week break compared to 31 per cent in favour of the one-week.

Cllr Jonathan Bacon criticised the national inflexibility of term-time holidays which have been in place for some years now.

He said he was not convinced of the educational merit the two-week holiday brings but recognised a proper consultation had been carried out and was happy to go along with the result.

The now-approved term dates for 2023/24 are as follows:

• Autumn Term – September 1, 2023 to December 19 — with a half term from October 23 to November 3

• Spring Term – January 2, 2024 to March 28 — with a half term from February 12 to February 16

• Summer Term – April 15, 2024 to July 26 — with a half term from May 27 to May 31