In 2023 Miller Research conducted research for Welsh Government, exploring perceptions and experiences of the current school calendar in Wales. 

The Welsh Government, through its Programme for Government and Co-operation Agreement with Plaid Cymru, has committed to explore reform of the school year. This research followed on from previous studies on the effects of changes and on attitudes towards school year reform.  

The main research aim for this commission was to explore the experiences and perception of learners, their families and school practitioners of the current school calendar. As such the purpose of the research was to capture insight into the status quo school calendar and not to explore attitudes towards any specific alternative structures for the school year. Full details of sources and stakeholders engaged can be found in section 2 of the final report. 

The research highlighted that in the experiences and perceptions of learners, parents, and school practitioners the structure of the school calendar does have an important role in learner and staff wellbeing, fatigue, learner behaviour attainment and progression. 

The findings suggest that alterations to the school calendar in Wales could improve levels of wellbeing and fatigue in learners and staff, help tackle disadvantage, and support learner attainment and progression. 

The full report and summary can be found here.