Possible extra day’s holiday for schools

Queen’s platinum jubilee plan approval pending

Schools in Argyll and Bute could enjoy an extra day off next year if plans for a holiday to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee are approved.

Councillors are being recommended to agree an extra holiday for the area on Friday June 3 to celebrate 70 years since Her Majesty’s reign began.

The plans would mean pupils would be off for consecutive Fridays, as Friday May 27 is earmarked as a teacher in-service day. The planned holiday for staff and pupils on Monday May 30 would move to Thursday June 2.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority has no exams planned for the proposed holiday date, with the 2022 diet due to finish on Wednesday June 1.

A report has also revealed that the additional cost to the council of paying employees to work on a public holiday has been estimated at £46,000. The authority’s policy and resources committee will debate the possibility of the extra holiday today (Thursday December 9).

‘Any change will require communication...to avoid confusion’

Executive director Kirsty Flanagan said: ‘SMT (senior management team) have given consideration to a range of options and have recommended granting an additional public holiday on June 3, 2022 as the best way to accommodate time to celebrate Her Majesty the

Queen’s 70 years on the throne.

‘Granting another public holiday will align with other organisations who will likely be on holiday. It will also allow staff and their families to participate in the planned three or four-day weekend of commemorative events.

‘Schools have a scheduled in-service day for teaching staff on Friday May 27 and a holiday for both staff and pupils on Monday May 30.

‘Should the authority grant an additional public holiday they would plan to retain the in-service day for teaching staff on Friday May 27 and move the May 30 holiday to Thursday June 2 and award an additional holiday for teachers and pupils on Friday June 3.

‘Any change will require communication to customers, staff, pupils and their families to avoid confusion over service delivery, though the impact of the national change would likely lead to confusion if it was not adopted.’

Ms Flanagan added: ‘The additional cost of paying employees to carry out essential work on a public holiday has been estimated at £46,000. This is based on the average overtime for a public holiday claimed in the month of May, where we already have one public holiday, in the last three years.’

The UK Government recently announced plans for the four-day weekend to mark the Queen’s 70 years on the throne – the first time a British monarch has reached such a milestone.