Staff absences fell 50% after schools introduced longer half-term break

Suffolk-based schools trust also found that pupil absences for illness fell 25% after extending autumn holiday

When Unity Schools Partnership decided to double the length of its half-term break last autumn, it was hoping to improve attendance and staff wellbeing. But Tim Coulson, the trust’s chief executive, said he was “blown away” by the positive results.

The Suffolk-based trust found that pupil absences for illness fell 25% and staff absences fell by 50% after it extended the autumn half-term holiday by a week at 31 of its primary and secondary schools.