As the summer holiday draws to a close, there’s a palpable sense of change in the air as students, parents, and educators prepare for the long-awaited return to school and the familiar routines that accompany it.
Surprisingly, this phenomenon isn’t exclusive to students and parents. The sense of change and ‘back-to-school’ buzz extends to adults as well, and research suggests that this is in part due to our long-established connection to the academic calendar and seasonal changes.
Are we still following the academic calendar?
It is commonly thought that the long summer holidays are a result of our agricultural roots. When the UK was an agrarian society, many children were needed to help with farm work during the busy summer months, and schools would close to allow children to assist their families with agricultural tasks Others believe the summer holiday can be traced back to the Middle Ages, where the long breaks allowed families sufficient time to visit pilgrimage sites across Europe.
Regardless of the origin of the long summer break, the summer months are now enjoyed in equal measure by school-aged children and adults alike, with as many as two-thirds of the UK opting to take annual leave throughout July and August. The long summer holidays extend to Europe too, with some towns in France and Italy closing for the whole of August. Similarly, the ‘back-to-school’ anticipation and excitement felt by students in September is shared by many adults today, despite leaving education many moons ago. They may not be going shoe shopping or buying a new pencil case, instead seeing this time of year as an opportunity to reset and reassess personal and professional goals.
Does autumn feel like the start of a new year?
During the summer months, people are busy travelling and spending time outdoors. However, as the summer air turns cooler and the nights start to draw in, people find themselves with more time indoors, and with that a chance to reflect and consider what they want to achieve in the remainder of the year.
Many people decide to learn a language or pursue a new hobby, embark on continued professional development, or return to education as a mature student The UCAS 2023/24 June application deadline data revealed that 16.5% of the 656,760 applications submitted were by mature students, with a total of 108,380 applications from prospective students aged between 21-35 and over This opportunity to look inward and reset extends to the workplace too, with many businesses (and even the UK parliament) seizing the opportunity to regroup, set new budgets, evaluate performance in the months leading up to September and ahead of the next fiscal quarter, or launch new projects (including Apple, who typically launch their new iPhone models in early September).
Overall, it seems that whether you loved or loathed your educational experience, it is hard to ignore the ‘back-to-school’ buzz of September and the feeling of starting a new year Whether you are setting personal or professional intentions this month, Quintessentially are on hand to help you reach your desired goals.
Education. With us, it’s as easy as ABC. Our international education consultancy covers everything from admissions and application processes to private tuition and residential tutors. Find out more by emailing [email protected] or calling us +44 (0)20 3073 6839.
