Hampshire schools given extra bank holiday thanks to Queen's platinum jubilee

SCHOOLS across Hampshire have received an additional bank holiday, the county council has confirmed.

While much of the country celebrated the Queen’s platinum jubilee last week, the event fell in the middle of school half-term, writes David George of the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The Department for Education (DfE) granted all schools an extra bank holiday, which can be taken at any point in the school year.

Hampshire County Council has chosen the final day of the summer term, Friday 22nd July.

Academy schools and other local authorities can select a different date.

Cllr Roz Chadd, HCC’s cabinet lead member for children’s services, said: "The decision to reduce the number of school days for maintained schools in 2021/22 was taken nationally by the DfE, in response to Her Majesty the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

"This is in line with the DfE’s previous response to other similar occasions, such as the 2012 diamond jubilee. Had schools not been on their half term break at the time of this year’s additional bank holiday, they would have been able to close on the nationally designated days.

"The change to the original school year, that had schools closing for summer on 22nd July, was only allowed when the necessary change to legislation had occurred so that schools could legally close on the additional day.

"As the extended bank holiday fell within half term for Hampshire schools, staff and students can instead have their additional day off on another day in the school year."

The guidance came from central government, leaving local authorities and other school bodies to designate the bank holiday.