The chief of the school watchdog Ofsted wants to see the school holidays moved to different times of the year.

Sir Martyn Oliver says the current timings are “bizarre” and mean that pupils are actually in school for a “ridiculously low percentage” of each year (190 days out of 365).

He told the Financial Times newspaper that the summer holidays should be shorter so that pupils aren’t forced to take exams at the hottest time of the year. He said: “It’s pretty hot usually in May, June and July, just at the point you’re asking children to sit down and take an exam… so I think there is a need to have a good old look at it.”

He also thinks a change would help disadvantaged pupils.

At the moment, most schools in England get a six-week summer holiday from the end of July to the start of September, two weeks off for Easter and Christmas and three week-long half-terms.

What do you think?