COUNCILLORS are expected to rubber-stamp plans for introducing a new week's holiday in February for pupils across the Borders.

But the changes may only last for two years, as talks are taking place about bringing the region into line with neighbouring education areas.

Schools in the Scottish Borders currently close for two days in the middle of the month with an additional in-service day also taking place.

Following a recent public consultation on holidays and in-service days, which attracted more than 2,000 responses, a full February week is the favoured option for future years.

As well as the five-day closure in February, which includes an in-service day, the preferred option will include two days of in-service training for teachers at the end of the main summer holidays in August instead of one.

And an additional in-service day will also be added onto the end of the October week.

But the two current in-service days at the start of November will be scrapped.

The changes are expected to to be implemented for 2021/22 and 2022/23, but future years will depend on discussions taking place about alignment with the local authority areas of Midlothian, East Lothian, Fife and Edinburgh.

Carolyn Didcock from Scottish Borders Council said: "There was a total of 2,069 responses to the consultation and the preferred option is two in-service days after the summer break, one in-service day after the October break, one in-service day in February with the schools closed for one week in February for pupils and four days for staff.

"There will also be one in-service day in May - the Tuesday after the May bank holiday.

"However, discussions are about to commence to consider aligning in-service days and holidays for other local authorities.

"In light of the above, it is proposed that the school holidays and in-service dates for 2021/22 and 2022/23 are published on the council’s website.

"In the interim, the preferred holidays and in-service days for the academic years 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/25 are held pending the discussions with the other local authorities."

Staff, parents and other members of the public voted by 1520 to 549 for implementing the proposed changes.

Members of the ruling administration at Scottish Borders Council will discuss the findings at their meeting on Tuesday.