- Title or Description
- School Holiday and Term Date Planning
- FOI Number
- 20250719
- Date Received
- 04/06/2025
- Type of Request
- FOI
- Request or Question
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I am writing to make a request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 regarding the process by which your Council determines school term dates, in-service days, and holiday closure dates for local authority schools. Please provide the following information in relation to the last two academic years (2022?23 and 2023?24): 1. School Term and Holiday Date Decision-Making a. The name or role(s) of the person(s) or committee(s) responsible for determining:*The start and end dates of each school term*The scheduling of in-service days*The allocation of holiday; both annual leave and closure days (when holiday is mentioned below, please define it as both annual leave dates -40, and school closure dates -26 ). b. Whether these decisions are delegated to education departments, elected members, or another group.
2. Legal, Policy, or Procedural Basis a. Any statutory basis, regulations, bye-laws, national guidance or local policy frameworks used to support or inform these decisions. b. Please include references or links to any relevant council documents, standing orders, or working group remits.
3. Evidence of Deliberation and Decision a. Copies of any minutes, briefing papers, consultation records, or decision logs evidencing:*How school term dates and holiday dates were selected*Why specific holiday or in-service dates were chosen (for each individual date or group of dates running consecutive e.g. a week) b. Please include internal or committee documentation, where available.
4. Internal Planning Templates and Guidance a. Please provide copies of any internal templates, scheduling tools, guidance documents, or other planning materials used to draft or approve school term calendars, holiday dates, and in-service day schedules. b. If any external tools or national planning templates were referenced (e.g., from Scottish Government or Education Scotland), please include these as well.
5. Review or Change of Practice a. Has the Council undertaken any formal reviews or consultations in the last two years specifically regarding:*The structure of school terms*The timing of holidays or in-service days*Alignment with neighbouring councils or national strategy? b. If so, please provide copies of the documentation or reports arising from these reviews.
6. Additional Notes If any part of this request is likely to exceed the cost limit, I am happy to refine or prioritise specific sections. - Response
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1. School Term and Holiday Date Decision-Making a. The Education Service within Scottish Borders Council is responsible for determining the start and end dates of each school term, the scheduling of in-service days, and the allocation of holiday dates (both annual leave and school closure dates). b. The responsibility for school holiday scheduling rests with the Education department, and final decisions are made by elected members at the Executive Committee level.
2. Legal, Policy, or Procedural Basis a. The decisions are made in line with national guidance and local operational requirements. While there is no single statutory instrument that dictates specific dates, planning considers:*Local authority duties under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980.*Scottish Government guidance on education provision.*Coordination with neighbouring local authorities. b. See response to question 3.
3. Evidence of Deliberation and Decision a. Public consultation on school holiday dates for the academic years 2022?23 and 2023?24 was conducted through Citizen Space in 2019. The responses informed the Education report submitted to the Executive Committee in January 2020. The Executive Committee report and its supporting documents, including consultation summaries and proposals for term dates, provide the formal record of decision-making. b. The key report relevant to this planning was presented at the Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday, 21 January 2020, which included planning for the 2022?23 and 2023?24 academic years. You can access the agenda and report here: Executive Committee - Tuesday 21st January, 2020 10:00am
4. Internal Planning Templates and Guidance a. Planning documents are contained within the minutes of Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday, 21 January 2020 (Agenda item 3). b. While Scottish Borders Council does not rely on a specific national template, planning takes into account general guidance and holiday patterns used by other Scottish local authorities to support regional alignment where possible.
5. Review or Change of Practice a. There has not been any formal review or consultation in the last 2 years. b. Not applicable.
