Petition
Reducing The 6 Weeks School Holiday To 2 Weeks.
Rejected
11 signatures
What the petition asks
Reduce the six week summer school holiday to two weeks and spread the remaining four weeks across the year to improve learning, reduce childcare pressures and support families.
6 week summer holidays cause children to forget learning, widen the attainment gap and place huge childcare and financial pressure on families. Shorter breaks would keep children’s progress on track, support working parents and allow schools to better use teaching time. Long breaks create stress and high costs for families.
Why it was rejected
It asked for something that is not the responsibility of the UK Government or Parliament.
Term dates are determined locally by schools and local authorities.
For maintained schools, community schools, community special schools, voluntary controlled schools, pupil referral units and maintained nursery schools, the governing body or local authority are responsible for setting term dates.
Academies, free schools, and other schools where the governing body is the employer of staff, such as foundation or voluntary-aided (church) schools, are free to set their own term and holiday dates.
For maintained schools, community schools, community special schools, voluntary controlled schools, pupil referral units and maintained nursery schools, the governing body or local authority are responsible for setting term dates.
Academies, free schools, and other schools where the governing body is the employer of staff, such as foundation or voluntary-aided (church) schools, are free to set their own term and holiday dates.
Timeline
| 27 Aug 2025 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 5 Sep 2025 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
11
Status
Rejected
Rejected
5 Sep 2025
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 23 Aug 2026.