American schools that have ditched the traditional academic calendar had their annual get-together in the Riviera Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, this year. But they insist they are not gamblers. In their opinion, “year-round education” - the catch-all phrase for school years with equal-length terms and shorter summer holidays - is the safest of bets.
The local government commission that investigated this issue evidently agrees and favours a six-term year. However, judging by the US experience, it may prove impossible to reach a consensus.
The year-rounders argue that they are reducing “summer learning loss” for two million children. But, unfortunately, it is harder to prove that attainment levels improve. One North Carolina study involving 370,000 children last year found no statistically significant difference between the scores of pupils following traditional and modern calendars.
UK teachers are therefore entitled to pose a question they have often asked themselves in recent years: is the gain worth the pain?
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