A council has been forced to defend its decision to break up schools for the holidays just 48 hours before Christmas Day after facing backlash.
Teachers and parents have criticised Highland Council in Scotland after it scheduled the end of term on December 23, with pupils due to return to classrooms on January 7.
This date was later than several other Scottish local authorities, including Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Independent councillor, Duncan Macpherson, who serves Inverness South, said “many school teachers, school staff, parents and pupils” questioned the move.
Councillor Macpherson, who is also a member of the council’s education committee, wrote in a post to social media: “It’s challenging for all school staff during the term leading up to Christmas, with the shortest daylight days of the year.
“Let’s be careful not to demotivate the entire school’s workforce by not taking their thoughts and concerns into consideration over the best time for holidays, that benefits both the school staff and the pupils.
“Dozens of parents and teachers have reached out to me and openly criticised the dates of closing schools and only stopping teaching one day before the most significant family day of the year.”
He claimed that many families had taken their children out of school “a day or two” before the last day of school in order to travel to see loved ones over Christmas.
Teachers and parents voiced criticism of the decision to end the school term on December 23
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“I will certainly raise the issue at the first opportunity and at the next education committee meeting, in the hope that common sense changes could be made before the 2026 Christmas holiday dates are set in stone,” Councillor Macpherson added.
One resident branded the term dates a “poor decision” by the council and said they had been forced to change Christmas plans as a result.
“Scandalous decision, we had to delay our travel plans to head to home to south,” the disgruntled parent wrote to Facebook.
“…now need to figure out how we are going to manage child care when we go back to work on the 5th.
Councillor Macpherson claimed some parents took their children out of school ahead of the end of term to travel to see friends and family
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“As many have said the last few days before Christmas are busy enough without shuffling between school and travel plans.
“Really poor decision from H.C [Highland Council].”
Another person commented: “Completely agree, this was a big topic of conversation with both my kids this year.
“They said it didn’t feel Christmassy with being in school for so long.
“We are also a busy family and would rather a bit more time before Christmas to spend together than in January.”
A third person commented they “really feel for the teachers” finishing for Christmas “so late”.
Highland Council said term dates are decided “several years” ahead of time.
A spokesman for the local authority said: “School holidays are agreed several years in advance, considering when public holidays fall and the spread of holidays across the school year.
“[The decision is made] in consultation with our union partners, and headteachers representative groups and are published online.”