It’s official: Christmas won’t be coming early for Aberdeen school pupils.
Youngsters, many of whom will no doubt be reaching giddy levels of excitement as Santa’s annual visit nears, will now be kept in school on Friday, December 22.
Families had been preparing for the break to begin the day before.
But the calendar has been changed just a matter of weeks in advance, following a bungle.
Last week, we revealed that the rethink was needed because officials forgot to include a day off for Good Friday.
Aberdeen schools: Simply having a slightly late Christmastime
Council chiefs, left scratching their heads, polled staff, pupils and their families on how to solve the problem.
Nearly two thirds of the nearly 9,000 people who responded voted to lose a day at the start of the Christmas break.
The term will now roll on another day, until Friday December 22.
It was decided at a meeting on Tuesday, November 21.
Classes will start again on Monday January 8 as planned, mirroring schools in Aberdeenshire.
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Many could have already booked travel to holiday or connect with loved ones over the festive period.
And the council’s interim education chief Shona Milne has confirmed neither school staff or pupils in this position will be punished.
Staff will have their holidays honoured if they can prove they were booked before the potential change in date was communicated.
And families with plans in place can arrange an “authorised absence” by contacting their school.
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Who’s on the naughty list at Aberdeen City Council?
The current Aberdeen school holiday calendar has been incorrect since it was approved by councillors in November 2019.
Ms Milne’s report places the blame on members of the education committee of the day.
But The P&J understands councillors have been pressing for confirmation of the correction since the survey was circulated.
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