SEVERAL schools have decided not to follow the city council's new holiday pattern.
From September, city maintained schools will have a two-week October break, a fixed Easter break and a five-week summer holiday.
But at least ten academies will have different patterns.
City schools chief David Mellen urged academies to follow the council's lead.
He said: "It would make sense for them to be the same as the city council and we have urged them to do so.
"It is a worry if there are academies with different holiday patterns to schools.
"I'm concerned that their decisions are being made based on the opinion of staff who are opposed to changes.
"But we are thinking here about what we feel is best for the education of our children.
"I'm happy that many other academies have followed the new terms plan."
Academies are free from council control and they can set their own holiday patterns.
Those which haven't followed the council are: Southwark Primary, in Basford; Nottingham Academy, in Sneinton; Top Valley Academy; Trinity School, in Aspley; Nottingham Girls' Academy, in Aspley; Bluecoat Academy, in Aspley; and Djanogly Northgate Academy.
Djanogly City Academy already operated a different model.
Many others, including Nottingham Emmanuel School, which is set to become an academy, are yet to announce their 2013-14 term dates.
The main discrepancies are in October.
Peter Brown, head teacher at Top Valley Academy, said they had thought carefully about their holiday patterns.
He said: "We took the view we needed to be persuaded there were compelling reasons to change our holiday patterns and we didn't feel they existed.
"We consulted with parents and staff. There was a lack of responses, which we felt meant there was no significant feeling. Of those who did respond the majority supported the idea of keeping the same pattern."
Mr Brown added they would review the holiday pattern every year.
"If we look at it again next year and find there is evidence that changing works, we may reconsider it," he added.
Mike McKeever, head teacher at Trinity School, said most parents didn't want to change term times.
He added: "There were also religious reasons. We wanted to keep our holiday around Easter."
Rob Sutton, who has a seven-year-old boy and four-year-old boy at Hogarth Primary in St Ann's, is concerned about the changes.
Hogarth is moving to academy status and he is worried about his children having different holidays when the oldest moves to secondary school.
He said: "I hope common sense prevails and all schools have the same holiday patterns. I believe the city council is making the right move. Its holidays will be the right length."
