ANGRY parents are preparing to take the council to court in a row over school holidays.

Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) published its holiday dates for 2010-11 in September last year after consulting with schools, professional organisations and unions, and received no objections.

But Weaverham High School has changed its dates for next year’s Easter break, forcing some parents to abandon holiday plans and causing chaos for families with children at different schools.

Now a source, who does not wish to be named, told the Guardian some parents were preparing to take CWAC to the High Court, seeking a judicial review of the school holiday policy.

The problems came after the dates were published and Weaverham High, on Lime Avenue, rejected council recommendations for the Easter holiday break from April 15 to May 3, stating those dates would not provide adequate preparation time for GCSE exams.

David Charlton, headteacher at Weaverham High, said school governors had adopted different Easter holiday dates, running from April 4 to April 15.

He said: “If we went with the Cheshire West and Chester Council dates, there would be a very, very short period of time between the finish dates and the start of GCSEs.

“We wouldn’t return until May 3 and we expect GCSEs to start around May 10.

“Because we are a foundation school, the governing body decides the dates of the holidays, in the best interests of the pupils.”

Other high schools and feeder schools in the area are reported to have followed suit, but were unavailable for comment.

Ian Callister, senior media relations manager for CWAC, said: “Local authorities are unable to dictate that all school holidays are taken at the same time simply because foundation and voluntary aided schools and academies are not obliged to accept the recommendations.

“When the local authority questioned this decision, it was advised by headteachers that insistence on its recommended dates would cause chaos for parents and staff, many of whom would already have made holiday plans.

“To avoid this disruption, we took the common sense view not to enforce change back to the recommended dates.”

He added: “In an attempt to find a common solution throughout West Cheshire, consultations with representatives of all relevant bodies have already begun with regard to the 2011 to 2012 school holiday dates.”

The Guardian’s source, who we have agreed not to name, said Weaverham High’s holiday date change had brought three main problem: Issues for parents who had followed the Cheshire West and Chester (CWAC) holiday dates and booked holidays or arranged events and have since been informed that the school Easter holiday dates have changed.

Problems for parents who usually take an additional four days’ leave before the Easter weekend, to make the most of the opportunity of a 10-day break.

Problems for staff members with children at other schools using the CWAC holiday list, who now may not be able to spend the holidays with their children.