Schools in Cumbria break up tomorrow, and we’re looking back at the long summer holiday over the years.


While the six-week break is traditional, there has been endless debate about whether it should be shortened.
A report by the Nuffield Foundation released earlier this year found that it should for the benefit of pupils and teachers.
The researchers said the summer holidays should be cut down from six weeks to four and proposed that half-terms be made longer, going from one to two weeks.
They felt this could help improve the wellbeing of both children and staff.
The report also highlighted the impact on learning, arguing that some pupils, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds or with additional needs, find it hard to get back into lessons after such a long break.
It said the extended holiday could slow learning, with teachers having to go back over old ground, and that it resulted in more issues with behaviour.

(Image: David Hollins)
None of these concerns were on the minds of year six pupils leaving Cummersdale School in 2014, who hired a pink Hummer limousine to depart in style.

(Image: Newsquest)
When asked if the six weeks holidays should be cut short, teacher Kendall Ward, 33, of Burgh by Sands, said they shouldn’t as they were needed.

(Image: Newsquest)
Les Davidson, 55, of Denton Holme, thought they should to reduce the amount charged by holiday companies.

(Image: Newsquest)
In 2016, Robert Ferguson Primary School used the six weeks holidays to carry out building work. Pictured outside the railings is headteacher Graham Frost.

(Image: Newsquest)

The same year, senior teaching assistant Sally Elson got a good send off when she retired from Houghton C of E Primary School at the end of the summer term.

(Image: Newsquest)

(Image: Newsquest)

Drew Stables, Harry Curtis and Hannah Wren are captured having underwater fun at Copeland Swimming Pool during the school holidays, while brothers Ryan and Cole Crellin are shown a centurion’s dagger during living history talks at The Beacon.


Our final picture is of pupils at Morton Junior School lining up to go back to lessons following the summer holidays in 1963.