SCHOOL summer holidays in Wales could face being cut to just four weeks.

The news comes as a public consultation is set to begin in the next academic year which could suggest a shorter summer break.

Welsh Government Education Minister Jeremy Miles said public research showed while there was "reasonable contentment" with the timetable there, was "openness" to change.

Mr Miles told the BBC: “Exploring options for change can enable us to support curriculum planning and delivery, tackle disadvantage and educational inequalities, and support learner and staff well-being.

"We now have an opportunity to explore these issues in the context of whether the current structure really is the best system to deliver on these shared priorities."

The NASWUT Teachers Union has reaffirmed its condemnation of the Welsh Government’s plan to restructure the school year.

In a statement, the union said: “The Welsh Government commissioned Beaufort Research to carry out a research and engagement exercise into attitudes towards school year reform in Wales.

"The report found 70% of the public, 77% of parents/carers, 75% of learners and 78% of education workers were in favour of the school year structure in its current form.

“No evidence has been produced to substantiate the Education Minister’s claims that reforming the school year will support the new curriculum, tackle education inequalities and support learner and staff wellbeing - only ending the underfunding of the Welsh Education system will achieve this.

“Restructuring the school year is at odds with public opinion and the evidence. Even though the Welsh Government claims to be evidence led, the Education Minister is ignoring his own research and is instead forging ahead.”

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Neil Butler, NASUWT Wales national official said: “My father used to tell me: 'if it aint broke, don't fix it'.

"There is a lot that is broken in the Welsh education service which the Welsh Government are aware of and failing to address. Instead, they plough on, vowing to change something most people (as evidenced in their own research) admit that they are quite happy with.”

Meanwhile, Eithne Hughes, director of the association of school and college leaders (ASCL) Wales said: “This research shows broad satisfaction with the current school year among parents, learners, the education workforce and business and no great appetite for reform.

"Responses to the three alternative models put forward suggest that perceived benefits are counterbalanced by perceived drawbacks. As the report notes, some respondents feel very strongly that reform cannot take place without compelling hard evidence on why it is needed and what difference it would make."