School: Term Times

My initial research has established the following.

The school year, of three terms, was established in 1875 and with just a few minor changes has broadly remained unaltered since then.  It's initial design included recognition that many children would be involved in harvesting crops.

The current arrangements act to the educational disadvantage of children, particular those from poorer families, as reading and numeracy skills fall during long periods whilst away from school, such as the current six weeks summer holiday.

There are various proposals to both shorthen the summer holiday and increase the time that children spend at school.  One that I have come across proposes a five term year with each term of about nine weeks.  This would increase the total time at school from the present 42 weeks to nearer 45 weeks per year.  The summer holiday would reduce to 3 weeks.

This is only the start of my enquiries as there are many other factors to be addressed including:

1. the extent of the educational disadvantage created by the current structure,
2. how any additional schoolling would be funded,
3. the opportunity for parents and carers to take children out of school, during term time, for holidays.