Archived decisions

Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Education

23 May 2002

Consultations and communications on the six-term year

Report of the County Education Officer

Contact: Bob Lloyd-Jones, Education Officer (Secondary/Post-16), ext 6364

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

    (i) that Hampshire County Council adopts the consultation and communication arrangements outlined in appendix 1, "Six-term year - consultation and communication arrangements".

2. Reason

2.1 The Local Government Association (LGA) has made recommendations for the current school year format to be re-organised to include:

      · six terms

      · two terms before Christmas, with no term of more than 38 days (7 weeks, 3 days)

      · a two week October break

      · a two week Christmas break

      · four terms after Christmas, all limited to a maximum of six weeks

      · a summer break, always of five weeks or more

    The proposals will have wide implications for various parties including schools, parents, County Council staff, the general public, businesses and community organisations.

    The suggested model for adoption is that produced by the Independent Commission working on behalf of the LGA. The LGA's paper "Guide to the six-term year" is attached as appendix 2.

    LGA consultation has indicated a strong preference for national co-ordination of arrangements for setting school terms and holidays.

2.2 The County Council will need to be in a position to make an informed decision as to whether or not to adopt a six-term year.

    To ensure that the decision is based on a consensus of support, a range of consultation and communication methods are proposed to ensure that all interested groups and individuals are kept well informed of County Council activities relating to the plans and are given opportunities to make comments.

2.2 The timetable for consultation would be completed in time for a decision to be made, either for or against the six-term year, for implementation in September 2004 at the earliest.

3. Other options considered and rejected

3.1 Implementation of the LGA's proposals for September 2003 were considered by officers and rejected as being unrealistic because:

    (i) the County Council has already agreed the calendar for the academic year 2003/2004.

    (ii) there would be insufficient time to conduct a full consultation exercise.

3.2 Adoption of other models such as the five-term year are not recommended because of the difficulties arising from trials run elsewhere.

4. Conflictions of interest declared by the decision maker or a member or officer consulted

4.1 Not applicable.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

5.1 Not applicable.

6. Reasons for the matter being dealt with if urgent

6.1 It would be helpful to launch the consultation strategy in June 2002.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background documents

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB The list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

TITLE FILE

The rhythms of schooling

The Local Government Association

Approved by Date of decision

Councillor D Allen