Isle of Wight brings back two-week half-term

Schools on the Isle of Wight will have a two-week long half-term break in the autumn, following a council decision.

The island's council's cabinet approved plans for the October break to be extended by one week and the summer break shortened by a week.

A consultation showed the majority of islanders were in favour of the fortnight autumn break.

The change comes into effect for the 2023/24 academic year, with a break between 23 October and 3 November.

Islanders were given three options for the half-term break - extend it to two weeks or one-and-a-half weeks, or stick with the current single week.

Isle of Wight Council said it had 3,250 responses, "with the majority (57%) indicating a preference for an extended autumn half term holiday".

The council previously brought in the two-week October half term for the 2019/20 academic year. It reverted to a one-week half term for this year.

Many who responded to the consultation said the change would help them as they were in seasonal jobs on the island, others said it would allow a family holiday during off-peak times.

The change does not affect academies and free schools which currently have the power to set their own term dates.

The 2023/24 term date will be:

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