Education staff unions in Wales, representing tens of thousands of school staff, have launched a petition with the Senedd demanding the Welsh Government withdraw plans to shorten summer holidays. They say proposals to change the school year dates “are not, and should not be, a priority for the education system in Wales”. A consultation on the proposal has ended before a decision is announced.

Launching the petition, the NEU Cymru, NASUWT Cymru, Unison Cymru, NAHT Cymru, UCAC and ASCL Cymru - the largest education unions in Wales - said there was no research showing that changing the school calendar and cutting summer holidays to five or four weeks would have a positive impact on children’s academic attainment. They said it was a “dangerous distraction” when schools were facing huge financial pressure as well as mounting problems with behaviour and staff retention.