Welsh Government Delays School Holiday Reform Until Post-2026 Election

Plans to shorten summer holidays and extend October breaks postponed amid divided opinions and ongoing educational reforms.

The proposed changes included reducing summer holidays by one week and extending the October half-term break.
A public consultation revealed mixed responses, with a narrow majority in favor but significant opposition from teaching unions and other groups.
Education Secretary Lynne Neagle emphasized the need to prioritize current educational reforms before implementing new changes.
The decision to delay follows other recent policy reversals by the Welsh government, including a farm subsidy scheme.
Any changes to the school year are unlikely to be implemented before the 2028-2029 academic year.