30th April 2004

During the past two weeks I have been seeking the views of parents and staff regarding the half term dates for February 2005. I would like to thank those that have taken the trouble to respond and express my gratitude to a number of parents who have acknowledged that I have been placed in an invidious position.

You will be aware from previous information that the published Essex half term dates did not match those in Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Suffolk. Last month Saffron Walden County High School and the majority of the primary schools in this area changed their half term dates to match the neighbouring counties. This change affects well over 3,000 children. We were left with a difficult decision as to whether or not to follow suit; I sought the views of parents, teaching and non-teaching staff, and consulted representatives of the Governors and the PTA. The consensus was clearly in favour of change for the following key reasons:

· The potential difficulty of providing staffing in key non-teaching areas of the School if our holidays did not match those of local schools;

· The difficulties caused to many parents and staff who have siblings in the local schools that have changed dates, or schools in the neighbouring counties. Respondents in this category greatly outnumbered any other.

· The potential difficulties of site security that arise if all local schools are on holiday while we are in session.

The number of parents and staff asking that the dates were left unchanged was in single figures. I would like to reassure parents in this category who have already booked holidays that we will grant leave of absence to the pupils concerned, and will help them to catch up with work that has been missed. The ski trip will go ahead on the dates already organised, and once again pupils will be helped to catch up with work as necessary.

I realised at the outset that seeking parent and staff views would result in some people finding themselves in disagreement with the eventual decision. I greatly regret this, but would rather have gone through the process of consultation and seen the clear consensus than not have consulted at all. It is disappointing that we have been placed in this uncertain position because of changes initiated by other organisations, but parent and staff responses indicate that a change of dates resolves many more problems than it causes.

The dates for February half term in 2005 will therefore be changed to run from the end of school on Friday February 11th until Sunday February 20th (boarders to return by 8.00pm)

Andy Waters