Schools will be able to take 29 April 2011 off for the royal wedding. Or they can have alternative time off if they are already closing on that day for an Easter holiday or a non-contact day. The Department for Education is arranging for the necessary legislative changes to reduce the school year 2010-11 by one day (two sessions) so that schools in England can lawfully enjoy the free time occasioned by the royal event. Parliamentary approval for a change in the Education (School Day and School Year) (England) Regulations 1999 will be obtained as a matter of due process.
The Department also intends to make changes to the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document by reducing the number of days a teacher must be available for work and reducing the number of hours a teacher must be available to perform their duties. Schools delivering the primary curriculum already have an extra training day in 2010-11, as approved by Parliament, and this will not be affected.
