EDUCATION unions are calling on the Welsh government to withdraw plans to change the structure of the school year.

NEU Cymru, NASUWT Cymru, Unison Cymru, NAHT Cymru, Ucac and ASCL Cymru have launched a petition to the Senedd, raising concerns that the plans, which could see weeks moved from the summer holidays to the autumn and summer terms, should not be a priority for the nation’s education system.

A consultation on the plans recently closed.

NEU assistant general secretary for Wales Emma Forrest said: “Funding of our schools and support for our education workforce are the priorities for our members in Wales.

“With the new curriculum, additional learning needs reform, behaviour and attendance challenges, Welsh government need to be supporting schools and making sure families have accessible holiday activities and free school meals, not changing the structure of the school year.”

NASUWT Cymru national officer Neil Butler said: “Reform of the school year is a dangerous distraction and will only do more damage to an already beleaguered education service.

“We need the Welsh government to deal with the very real problems impacting on education in Wales and to stop going down this dead end.”