We have received a number of enquiries from schools planning their calendar for 2012/3. The issue relates to the fact that most schools will break for Easter on Thursday 28 March 2013 – Maundy Thursday. There has been much debate in recent years about whether our schools should remain open in Holy Week: on the one hand, some schools want to enable children to participate in the liturgy in their local parish; on the other hand, some schools believe it to be very important that the children are in school to celebrate Holy Week. There are merits in both positions.
We would urge schools to consider this issue and decide, in consultation with the local clergy, what is correct in their particular circumstances. The diocese will continue to offer direct guidance in circumstances where there are attempts to replace the Easter holiday with a ‘Spring Break’ at a time unrelated to Easter.
