MODERN FAMILY

SON junior’s attempts to get a day off school have reached a new level of ingenuity.

Gone are those early days of the September term when he enthusiastically completed his homework with his brand-new pens the day it was set and two days before it was due to be handed in.

The bits of school uniform that haven’t actually been lost look as though they have been worn for three terms, not one.

The homework is now more likely to be done on deadline morning, in between mouthfuls of cereal.

School fatigue has well and truly set in, and the wealth of reasons and excuses as to why he doesn’t need to go are getting more and more outlandish.

He spent a week persuading us that home schooling was the way forward.

This involved promising that he would definitely, definitely do as he was told, that he wouldn’t mind an hour of maths every day, but he did soon change his mind when he realised “football playtime” wouldn’t work on his own.

Next, it was trying to convince us that he wasn’t feeling well after eating two bowls of cereal, a pancake and some cheese for breakfast.

The latest was his best yet as he announced at the dinner table that he had been thinking, and decided it was time he had a baby brother or sister.

After the choking ended, I discovered the logic behind his decision.

Apparently a classmate had a day off when their brother was born, so he would definitely get one too.

To be fair, seven-week half-terms like this one always leave them more worn out than usual.

Pupils and teachers do get tired during the term time, sickness is high and the work rate suffers.

A new deal that spreads out their workload more evenly and makes it more manageable would be a very good idea

Cardiff council is looking at changing the current holiday system.

It is more to do with giving parents the chance to take advantage of out-of-term holiday prices, but I do think to have shorter terms with slightly longer holidays in between is worth the sacrifice of a shorter summer holiday.

The move has been backed by 73% of head teachers in the city, but it has been warned that any changes would have to be Wales-wide.

This completely makes sense as if you have different children or families in neighbouring areas with clashing holidays it defeats the purpose.

Tackling the school calendar is quite a feat as the three-term year is ingrained in the national consciousness.

Calls for change have been rumbling along since the Seventies, so my son might be having children of his own before we do see it actually happen.