Half of UK parents in a survey of 6,053 back cutting the six-week summer holiday by a week and moving it elsewhere. Should the school summer break be shorter?
In Parentkind's National Parent Survey 2026, 50% backed the change and 21% opposed it, and 51% said school holidays are financially difficult. Travel industry groups have also called for weeks to be moved to the October and February half-terms to spread demand and prices.
What happened
Parentkind's National Parent Survey 2026 of 6,053 UK parents with children aged 4 to 18 found 50% support cutting the summer holiday by one week and moving that week to another holiday, with 21% against. Support was higher among single parents (56%) and parents of children with special educational needs (59%). 51% said school holidays are financially difficult, and holiday clubs average £28.87 per child per day. In September, the Advantage Travel Partnership called for two weeks to move to the October and February half-terms.
Why people disagree
Supporters say six weeks stretches family budgets and childcare, with many working parents taking unpaid leave, and that a better-spread year would ease peak-season travel prices and the long autumn term. Opponents say the long break gives families real time together and children a proper rest, that teachers need it too, and that changing it shifts costs rather than cutting them.
What's still unclear
It is unclear whether a shorter summer would save families money overall, how it would affect learning, or whether any government in England plans to change term dates.
Sources
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