The academic calendar needs ‘a good old look at’ to stop children sitting exams at the hottest time of year and parents fretting about a long summer break, the head of Ofsted has advised.
Experts say children lose momentum, while working parents face increased childcare costs to cover the holidays.
The majority of state schools in England have a six-week break over the summer, two weeks at Christmas and Easter, and a one-week half-term holiday for each of the three terms. Some schools offer a longer two-week break in October.
But the timings of the holidays may not be in the best interests for either parents or children, according to Ofsted chief Martyn Oliver.
And the way the school calendar is currently structured means pupils sit exams as the weather is beginning to get warmer.
There was an argument for school terms to be looked at again and changed, said Oliver, adding that the topic was certainly up for ‘debate’.
Speaking to the Financial Times, he said: ‘It’s pretty hot usually in May, June and July, just at the point you’re asking children to sit down and take an exam … so I think there is a need to have a good old look at it [the school year].’
On the point of the length of holidays offered, he said it was ‘bizarre’ and added: ‘It’s interesting to think that the holiday period was very much determined around harvesting fields.
The academic year needs ‘a good old look at’ to stop children losing momentum and parents fretting about a long summer break, Ofsted boss Martyn Oliver has advised
The way the academic calendar is currently set up means exams are sat in the hotter months
‘I think it probably is time to think about school holidays again.’
Oliver has previously remarked on the length of holidays provided to school pupils, citing the fact that most spend only 190 out of 365 days of a year in education.
In Ireland, France, Spain and Italy, schools offer fewer half-terms but longer summer holidays.
A recent survey found however that parents in the UK would be in favour of slashing the summer break to four weeks, with longer half-terms.
Research by the charity Parentkind found many families cite childcare as an issue to cover the summer.
Most teachers also support a four-week break, as long as they do not lose the total amount of holiday they get throughout the year.
Previous studies have shown pupils regress during the holidays because they get out of practice with their reading and writing.
The charity’s research, which was conducted in July, is based on its own poll of 3,000 parents and a separate poll of 9,000 teachers by Teacher Tapp.
A recent survey found parents in the UK would be in favour of slashing the summer break to four weeks, with longer half-terms
It found that 53 per cent of parents would back plans to reduce the school summer break to four weeks from six and only 33 per cent would oppose this.
Many parents would prefer two-week half-term breaks and a longer Christmas holiday.
A shorter summer break was seen as a financial positive by 32 per cent of parents, compared with 17 per cent who saw it as a negative.
The proportion in favour on these grounds increased to 47 per cent among parents of children entitled to free school meals.
Thirty-seven per cent of parents overall and 43 per cent of those whose children were entitled to free school meals said a shorter break would be beneficial for childcare, compared with 14 per cent overall who said it would be detrimental.
The Teacher Tapp polling found that 62 per cent of teachers would accept a shorter summer holiday, 38 per cent would support it being reduced from six weeks to five and 24 per cent were in favour of it being cut to four weeks.
However, 35 per cent wanted to stick with the traditional six weeks, while the remainder gave other answers.
Jason Elsom, the chief executive of Parentkind, said: ‘While children will no doubt be looking forward to extended time away from school, the long summer break is a challenge for some parents.
‘Our large parent poll shows that most parents want to knock two weeks off the six-week summer break to give teachers and children a month off instead.
‘Parents tell us that a shorter summer holiday would help with costs and childcare, which would be particularly welcome at a time when some families are struggling to keep their heads above water.
‘We need to make sure the long summer break doesn’t add further stress and hardship for parents, particularly those on low incomes.’
A recent survey by Coram found summer holiday childcare costs in Britain have increased by 4 per cent in the past year, to an average of £179 per child per week. It is almost three times the price of after-school club in term time.
The Daily Mail has approached Ofsted for comment.