SOUTHEND school heads have defended the six-week school summer break, after a think tank suggested it should be cut.

The Institute for Public Policy Research is worried pupils’ reading and maths skills are suffering during the long summer break.

It would like the three-term system, with its big summer break, replaced by five eight-week terms. Pupils and teachers would then get get just four weeks off in the summer and two weeks between the other terms.

Andrew Baker, headteacher of Westcliff High School for Boys, strongly disagrees. He explained: “I see nothing wrong with the three-term structure.

“It enables public examinations to take place in May and June for them to be marked, for schools to have a break, and to return in early September. I think any tinkering with the system is likely to be unhelpful and I would prefer the present one to be retained.”

Rebecca Perman, deputy head of Chalkwell Junior School, also backs the long holiday. She said: “If you look at European countries like Portugal, Spain and France, they get three months off and don’t seem to do too badly. Children need the holiday. They need a break and if during the holiday, they do exciting things, go to the beach and go out, that part of their education is valuable.”

Chris Russell, headteacher of Heycroft Primary School in Eastwood, described the long summer break as “very valuable”.

He added: “You need to draw an end to the school year. Staff need to recharge their batteries, too, because they are working really creatively with children all the time.”

In Southend, efforts are already being made to prevent youngsters slipping in the summer. Katherine Pond helps run the Team Read project at Southend Library, which encourages children to maintain literacy skills through the summer.

She said: “It’s nice for them to relax and de-stress, out in the sunshine, but I think parents are aware of the need to keep up children’s skills.

“Team Read is perfect for that, because it’s fun. At school they read because teachers tell them to. This is all about fun, not about passing tests.”

There is a taster session at Southend Library on Saturday. Call 01702 615090 for details.