A Suffolk school has proposed plans to extend its school day and altering term dates to help tackle high absence rates of staff and pupils during the autumn term. 

County High School in Bury St Edmunds, which is part of the Unity Schools Partnership, has announced plans to tackle issues at the school. 

A letter seen by this newspaper, that was sent by headteacher Sally Kennedy to parents, said the trust states the two major challenges the school is aiming to tackle is high absence rates in the autumn term and recruitment. 

The letter states that the school day would be extended by 10 minutes – with school starting at 8.55am, which is five minutes earlier than currently, and will finish at 3.45pm, which is five minutes later.

Ms Kennedy said that students who get a bus into school will still have access to them.

The school is also provisionally looking to make an adjustment to the dates in the autumn term 2023.

Ms Kennedy said: "By adding five days to the October half term, we believe this will impact positively on the physical, emotional and mental health of our staff and pupils, and decrease absence during this term.

"An added benefit of this strategy is that it creates a second week, during which families can take a more affordable holiday.

"We are very clear that we do not authorise pupil absence for holidays during school terms, and we know that a major reason for families making such requests is the higher cost of holidays during school holiday periods."

As part of a trust, academies, including free schools, can set their own term dates and school day.

Parents are being asked to fill out a consultation form and once that is complete the school expects to confirm by the end of March the dates for the next school year.