School attendance plummets due to unusual three-day school week

The Easter long weekend, Anzac Day and even cross country events at schools has led to a 10 per cent drop in attendance on the first week back from holidays. HAVE YOUR SAY

School attendance dropped during the unusual three-day week.

The Department of Education has defended an unusual three-day school week at the end of the Easter break after attendance rates plunged by at least 10 per cent.

The drop in students attending school is believed to be due to the Easter long weekend, Anzac Day and even cross country runs scheduled at most schools this week.

But educators have defended the three-day school week, saying it was a tough call on whether to send students back after a fortnight of school holidays.

Most state schools also held cross country runs this week, adding to the disruption to classroom routines, as well as traditional pre-Anzac events.

Teachers’ Professional Association Queensland president Scott Stanford said attendance so far this week was about 85 per cent, compared with the usual target of 95 per cent or more.

“It’s something we could plan for in the future and plan better for,” he said.

“It (the three-day week) can be disruptive if parents take their kids out and that can disadvantage students learning.’’

Queensland Association of State School Principals President Scott Murphy said this week was a “short and sharp” beginning to the term.

Families just finished celebrating Easter weekend and now there is another long weekend. Kit and Daniel Wise with their kids Indigo and Jagger at the beach on the Gold Coast. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“If we push back the first term, we end up with a late Easter holiday period and a very long term one,” Mr Murphy said.

“What we find is when we have long terms, is that’s it’s not always ideal for teaching and learning because students particularly in the early years get tired.”

A Department of Education spokeswoman said the department conducted extensive consultation with key stakeholders in the industry in the development of school calendar.

“Setting school year dates is a complex process that considers multiple factors including balancing the timings of public holidays and school holidays with term lengths and delivery of the Australian curriculum,” she said.

“Term dates are set between three and five years in advance to assist forward planning and ensure a well-structured and balanced school calendar.”

University of Southern Queensland Educational psychology lecturer Rachel Leslie agreed, saying 11-week terms were “very hard on kids”.

“Having a 10-week term is probably more important than whether or not students have a short week at school.”

Dr Leslie advised parents to put trust in teachers as they would have adjusted their planning.

“The three-day week can be a bit of an inconvenience for parents, so if they do want to take the kids out for those three days to go on a family holiday … just get in contact with your child’s school and talk to them,” she said.

Queensland Teacher’s Union President Cresta Richardson said the QTU and its members welcomed any opportunity for greater input and communication with the department to ensure “common sense solutions and better efficiencies” to limit disruption.

Independent Education Union of Australia state secretary Terry Burke said the scheduling of the school break around Easter would always be a challenge.

“We note that in 2026 schools will operate up to Holy Thursday and will then resume after a two-week break,” he said.

Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said the former Labor government set the school calendar up to 2029.

“I look forward to working with the department and stakeholders soon to map out the following years,” he said.

“I’m focused on providing a world-class education for Queensland students, which includes lifting NAPLAN results, improving attendance rates and reducing red tape for teachers.”

Originally published as School attendance plummets due to unusual three-day school week