The consultation on School Term Dates for the 2023/2024 school year was open from 6 December 2021 to 28 January 2022.

The agreed term dates for Voluntary Controlled and Community schools in Suffolk are now provided on the Suffolk County Council website at: www.suffolk.gov.uk/children-families-and-learning/schools/school-term-and-holiday-dates/.

Local Authorities have a duty to determine school term dates for local authority-maintained schools. Schools must be open to pupils for 190 days in an academic year and 195 days for teachers. Schools have five training days available to take at their discretion – Suffolk County Council will no longer recommend PD dates to schools because we believe school leaders are best placed to make this decision.

We will advise parents/carers to check the school’s own website to verify staff training dates, which from the 2023/2024 school year, can be set at the discretion of the school.

Academies, Free schools and Voluntary Aided schools are responsible for setting their own term dates. This means that individual schools may choose to follow a pattern and/or specific dates that do not match those set by us. We would, however, request that schools align with the dates set with schools in the local area for the convenience of parents/carers and to reduce the costs of school transport and catering services. This is particularly advisable for schools who share activities or services.

We will advise parents/carers whose children attend an Academy, Free school or Voluntary Aided school, to confirm the school’s term dates from the school’s website as these may differ to those we suggest.

We thank you for your continued support.