Issue - meetings

This report seeks approval for the 2020/21 term dates of schools for which City of York Council (CYC) is the employer and provides an update on the agreed strategy for setting term dates for future school years alongside CYC’s neighbouring authorities.

Resolved:  (i)      That the draft term dates set out in Annex A to the report be approved.

Reason:     To meet the statutory requirements of the Education Act 2002 (Section 32) and other related legislation.

                   (ii)      That the continued use of a regional approach and adherence to the principles of setting future term dates that were previously agreed between 25 local authorities, as set out in Annex C, be approved.

Reason:     To provide clarity for residents and employees in relation to school holidays and minimise the negative effects of differing school terms across the region.

The Executive Member considered a report which sought approval for the 2020/21 term dates of schools for which City of York Council (CYC) was the employer and provided an update on the agreed strategy for setting term dates for future school years alongside CYC’s neighbouring authorities.

Building on work carried out in 2017, officers had continued to work with an increasing number of other local authorities (LAs) to further the regional use of the guiding principles summarised in Annex C to the report.  The aim was to establish, as far as possible, common school term dates each year. 

At a regional meeting in September 2018 that included several LAs beyond CYC’s immediate neighbours, the value of aligning term dates had been recognised and it was likely that all participants except those with fixed Easter breaks (Leeds and Sheffield) would set term the same term dates as CYC for 2020/21.  It was proposed that CYC host a further meeting in 2019 to continue the proactive co-ordination of future dates.

The proposed dates at Annex A had been circulated to all York schools for comment.  In response to questions from the Executive Member, officers confirmed that the views of school pupils had also been taken into account when setting the term dates.

Resolved:  (i)      That the draft term dates set out in Annex A to the report be approved.

Reason:     To meet the statutory requirements of the Education Act 2002 (Section 32) and other related legislation.

                   (ii)      That the continued use of a regional approach and adherence to the principles of setting future term dates that were previously agreed between 25 local authorities, as set out in Annex C, be approved.

Reason:     To provide clarity for residents and employees in relation to school holidays and minimise the negative effects of differing school terms across the region.