Schools in Southend are set to stick to a tried-and-tested three term year unless change is forced upon them by the Government, it was revealed today.
A debate over changes to the school year - possibly including a move to six terms - has been going on for two years, Southend's cabinet will be told next Wednesday.
Lorraine O'Reilly, director of education, said: "Schools have become a little weary of persistant consultation on this matter and feel co-ordination with Essex is an important issue because of the number of cross border pupils."
Ms O'Reilly said Essex had conducted a consultation over the issue which had shown a desire to retain a three term year but with a fixed spring break.
However, the Tory cabinet will be asked to approve changes to the school year 2004 to 2005.
Under the plan, school terms would be slightly different to that being proposed for the rest of the county but with fixed dates for the spring two weeks.
This would mean an earlier finish to the summer term in July and a later one to the autumn term in December.
This would allow more time for preparation for the announcement of exam results and avoid wasted time at the end of the summer term.
Ms O'Reilly said there had been consultation with both the Roman Catholic diocese of Brentwood and the Church of England Diocese of Chelmsford but neither had expressed any major concerns over the Easter changes.
The only school in South Essex which has moved away from the traditional three term year to a five term system is Greensward College in Hockley.
Published Wednesday, June 18, 2003
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