The Welsh government’s decision to postpone changes to the school holiday has been sharply criticised by former First Minister Mark Drakeford. The summer school holiday was scheduled to be cut from six to five weeks in 2026, with the October half-term expanded to two weeks. This change was part of Labour’s manifesto commitment at the last Welsh election. Education Secretary Lynne Neagle defended the postponement, saying it would enable schools to concentrate on other significant reforms.
Drakeford, visibly furious, warned this decision would damage Labour politically. He regretted that the government had shelved plans to improve outcomes for children in Wales, describing it as an “absurd” decision. Drakeford warned Neagle that she could not ignore the results of a consultation, following which cutting the summer holiday had been proposed. He argued that the proposed autumn half-term break could have offered essential opportunities for children from underprivileged backgrounds.
Drakeford’s prognosis comes on the eve of a no-confidence vote in the Senedd of his successor, Vaughan Gething. Several weeks of tension within the Labour Party followed donations to Gething’s leadership campaign. Drakeford alleges that the change to school holidays was an essential step in improving student outcomes. Wales faces significant challenges in education and to address these is crucial to increase opportunities for young people.
The Senedd saw dramatic scenes as Drakeford and Neagle exchanged heated words. Hefin David, the MS for Caerphilly, walked out in protest behind Drakeford. Plaid Cymru has criticised what it called a Labour crisis, while Welsh Conservative Shadow Education Minister Tom Giffard called the situation unheard of. The education debate in Wales seems to be far from over, and the postponement of the school holidays change has left many feeling frustrated
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