School holidays are too long.

Let me explain. I know the profession is plagued by more marking and preparation than ever before, and I don’t think we should try to copy the factory schooling models of the far east. My concern is not about the poor performance of students or staff, and I know the idea of a reduced break would enrage the unions and see even more teachers to consider quitting. But I want less time off for the sake of my students’ wellbeing.

I am the headteacher of a school where 100% of children are eligible for the pupil premium. Many of them dread the long summer break because it means their secure environment, structure and routines suddenly disappear. In addition to falling behind in their studies, they lose the dignity that school quietly provides. As well as offering a safe and secure place for learning, the staff here bring in food for students’ breakfasts and wash clothes that are soiled after weeks of continuous wear. We keep an ample supply of shower gel, deodorant, shampoo, combs, toothpaste and brushes to support hygiene. Most importantly, we have a team of professionals who act not only as surrogates for parents but also for social services.

It’s students like Peter in year 11 who need us the most. He accepts our shower gel each week and is grateful that we can wash his clothes because his mother can’t always afford the money for the electricity meter. Then there’s Tom in year 6, who spends much of his time alone as his relationship with his parents has broken down. And Mark, who has mental health issues and wouldn’t get any therapy if it wasn’t for the services the school provides.

Many would argue that it is simply not a teacher’s job to look out for children’s wellbeing in this way. To some extent, I agree, and in an ideal world we wouldn’t need to. But with social services overstretched due to an acute lack of funding, somebody has to help. Schools need to do whatever it takes to stop children getting lost in the system. I would rather have less time off if it means that my students will come back safe and ready to learn.

Some might also argue that children don’t want to have their holidays cut short. In truth, most young people tend to get bored as the summer drags on. The children I speak to often say that they have nothing to do over the six weeks and end up getting into trouble. What’s more, if we had these extra weeks in school, the start of the new term could involve engaging, exciting learning beyond the curriculum – perhaps structured as a kind of summer camp where young people could learn useful skills. Naturally, if teachers spent more time in school, they should be paid more, too.

Perhaps the most powerful argument against a shorter summer is teacher workloads, which are now more unbearable than ever. You might think I am a fool to think less time off won’t mean more work. But the solution is surely to make the job more manageable during the year, with far fewer unnecessary tasks. This would mean that the need for a holiday would be less desperate, and by preventing students from falling behind over the break, we would be more likely to help them achieve, further reducing the pressure placed on us.

Many schools are now acting as makeshift social services, desperately trying to fill the gaps left by an uncaring society that fails to protect the poor and the vulnerable. My staff have come to realise that in order for our students to make progress in their learning, we need to provide a huge amount of additional care – especially during the summer.

So as the world around us changes maybe we need to readdress the role of the teacher. Sadly, I do believe that certain elements of our society are broken, and that schools have a critical role in protecting and safeguarding young people now. After all, most of us came into teaching to transform lives. We must never lose sight of our duty to educate and we must always strive for high academic standards. But children can only learn if they feel safe and secure. And I’m more than happy to cut my holiday short to make sure this happens.

• Names have been changed to protect identities.

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