11-year-old 'horrified' at when schools break up for Christmas

County schools are set to break up for the Christmas holidays on Friday, December 22 - a few days later than usual - and go back on Monday, January 8.

But when 11-year-old Harvey Davidson found out the date he had “the mother of all meltdowns” according to mum Roxanne.

Harvey put down his thoughts on this year's term dates in a letter (Image: Roxanne Davidson)

The Christopher Whitehead Language College pupil stormed off to his room and wrote: “I am absolutely horrified how this December 22 we break up from school.

“Normally, we break up from school around December 16 or 17, so why do we leave on the 22nd this year?

“Now personally, I think this shouldn’t be allowed because people may not have the time for Christmas shopping or have plans for this year that have to be moved or cancelled because of this uncalled-for event.

“Also, I and many children like me like to do fun things with my family a week before Christmas as January is very boring.

“Please consider this when you next plan Christmas holiday dates.”

Harvey loves spending the run-up to Christmas with his family (Image: Roxanne Davidson)

Roxanne said: “We were planning the calendar around Christmas and I said ‘Harvey, do you realise you break up on the 22nd?’

“He is quite passionate so he stormed upstairs saying he was going to write a letter to the council.

“When he came back down with it I was so proud of him. It was very polite but you can see it’s his angry writing.

“To be fair, I’ve never known the schools break up this late. There’s obviously a reason but the best part of Christmas is the build-up to it.”

Harvey, who is in Year 7, said his favourite things about Christmas are “going places and playing board games” with his family, sitting by the fire and watching movies.

Do you think the school Christmas holidays are starting too late this year?

A spokesperson for Worcestershire Children First said: “Schools typically break up for the festive period on the Friday before Christmas Day and return on the Monday following New Year's Day and so the end of term changes dates every year.

“This academic year, our schools are set to break up for the festive period on Friday 22 December and return on Monday 8 January 2024.  Schools in an area usually try to use the same set of holiday dates to be consistent with each other and some schools will book teaching training days at the end or beginning of a term that extends the holiday period for families.

"You can find term and holiday dates for the next four years for maintained schools on our website at www.worcestershire.gov.uk/termdates

"For Academies, Foundation, Free or Voluntary Aided Schools please view the school website or contact the school directly.”