Schools get early break

STUDENTS will have a false start to their first week of school next year with a public holiday falling on their second day back.

The 2016 school year will start on Monday, January 25, with students getting the next day off for the Australia Day public holiday.

The decision was made in February 2013, ruling out a pupil-free day on the Monday that would have allowed a clean start to the school year.

Education Minister Kate Jones said it was important for students to attend school every day but ruled out bringing in a pupil-free day.

“The first day of the school year is an important event that children shouldn’t miss unless they have a reasonable excuse, like illness,” she said.

Queensland Association of State School Principals president Michael Fay admitted the first week back was not the “best scenario”.

“It is a great opportunity for the younger kids to have a staggered start so they can come back for day one and experience what it’s like to be back at school, then have a day to reflect,” he said.

Queensland Teachers’ Union president Kevin Bates said with term one made up of only nine weeks, every day counted.

Last year, 347,910 student absences were due to holidays, an increase from the previous year of 320,244.

Queensland Catholic Education Commission executive director Dr Lee-Anne Perry said there were local variations on school term dates, with most Catholic schools returning on the Wednesday.

A Department of Education spokeswoman said Queensland school holiday dates were set several years in advance with term dates and school holidays up to and including 2020 already set.