Drastic times call for drastic measures.

Nick Pietrek, Head of Thorpe House School, proffers a sensible solution to an acute problem. Children, although being taught remotely, are not receiving the same level of teaching assistance they are used to. The progress gap that will ensue will not only last into the next academic year, but possibly beyond. Nick’s suggestion is to change the shape of the school calendar, switching the summer break to now. It is a bold, forward thinking proposal, but a practical one considering this brave new world we find ourselves.

‘As educational leaders meet to deliberate the way forward for schools, is there discussion to be had about an overhaul of term dates this year? If, as it looks increasingly likely, schools are going to be told to close for up to 14 weeks, would it not make sense to take that decision now. If we closed for, let’s say, 12 weeks (in the hope that this would be sufficient), we could return to school in mid-late June and commence the summer term, (having had the summer break early).

If we took this approach, schools could end their summer term in the penultimate week in August and have a 2-week holiday before starting back the second week in September. If the Christmas term was then extended by a week we would essentially be back on track.

I appreciate this would be dramatic but it would also be pragmatic. It could be incredibly disruptive to lives but, in the current climate, that is our new reality. At least we would be preserving the integrity of our education.’

Even if Nick’s suggestion isn’t possible this summer, it might be something to pursue next academic year, extending the summer term and therefore allowing for some time to be regained throughout the year.