British schools

[Fairy Queen]

In answer to the question;
> 
>   When does school start in Britian? and when does it end?
>
Michelle said;
 
>   Actually, in the UK, we have a similar system because of 
differing climates. 
 (snip)
>   for the most part, school resumes in early September and runs 
until the mid to end of July. This is in the public school ( state ) 
system. Private schools, independant fee paying schools decide 
individually when their terms ( the trimester system ) start and end.
(snip) 

> 
This is correct at present, and IMHO, is the way it should stay, but 
there are plans to switch the whole system from three terms and a 
long summer holiday to six terms, with an extra holiday in the autumn 
but less time off in summer.

There is an article on the Newsround website   
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/uk/newsid_1715000/1715254.stm 
which explains the proposals more clearly.

One reason this is being considered is to make the structure of the 
year much more regular, with all the terms an equal length, but other 
people are opposed to this because it would mean that what is now 
the 'Easter holiday' would occur on a fixed date every year, and so 
it would no longer coincide with Easter itself.

However, the government has been considering this on and off for some 
time, and whether or not the system will change remains to be seen.

Lucy xx