Travel Firm Calls for Inset Weeks to Ease Holiday Costs and Absences
Headteachers across England and Wales are being encouraged to consolidate inset days into full weeks to tackle term-time absences and enable families to secure more affordable holidays. Travel company On the Beach has highlighted this approach as a potential solution to an issue it claims the Government 'has run out of answers to'.
Current Inset Day Practices and Proposals
In England, the majority of schools have five compulsory inset days per academic year, while those in Wales have six. During these days, staff work but pupils do not attend. Schools typically decide when to schedule these days, with most not combining them to create extended breaks.
On the Beach has contacted the headteachers of 25,000 schools in both nations, requesting they introduce inset weeks that are staggered by region. This strategy aims to allow families with school-age children to arrange week-long holidays outside peak term times, providing access to travel at significantly reduced prices.
Impact on Holiday Prices and Fines
Research by insurer Go.Compare, released in July last year, found that the average price of a package holiday to Spain was 20% higher during school holidays compared to term time. This equates to an extra £337 per person, putting financial strain on many households.
Currently, parents face fines for taking children out of school without authorisation. The penalty is £80 per child if paid within three weeks, rising to £160 if paid later. Recent Department for Education figures show that nearly 460,000 fines for unauthorised family holidays were issued in the 2024/25 academic year.
Voices from the Industry and Education
Zoe Harris, chief customer officer at On the Beach, stated that families are often forced to choose between affordability and school attendance. "Parents can see cheaper off-peak holidays, but there’s no straightforward way to access them without their children missing school," she said. "Inset weeks would give families that option while helping schools maintain attendance levels."
One school already implementing this approach reports positive outcomes. Andy Stirland, principal of Python Hill Academy in Nottinghamshire, said his school has attached an inset week to the spring bank holiday each May for the past seven years. "It has allowed families to take cheaper holidays while keeping attendance above the national average," he explained. "Without the inset week, this would be a very different story."
Government Response and Broader Implications
The Government has cautioned against any loss of learning time. A Department for Education spokesperson noted that while schools have flexibility over term dates, they must ensure pupils do not miss essential education. The department added that attendance levels have improved significantly over the past year, with millions more days spent in school and fewer pupils persistently absent.
This proposal is likely to fuel ongoing debates over how schools balance strict attendance rules with the rising cost of living and families' ability to afford quality time away together. As discussions continue, the focus remains on finding practical solutions that support both educational commitments and financial well-being.
