Contact: Melanie Saunders, Education Officer (Secondary/Post-16), telephone 01962 846364, e-mail: [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 This report seeks approval to consult over the dates of school terms and holidays in 2006/2007.

2 Background

2.1 In May 2004, school term and holiday dates for 2005/2006 were approved by the Executive Member for Education, following a protracted period of consultation.

2.2 The consultation on the school year 2005/2006 began in October 2003 with three options being sent to schools. The decision on the pattern of the year followed extensive discussions with teacher representatives and neighbouring authorities.

2.3 The pattern of dates eventually approved by the Executive Member for Education was replicated across 20 local authorities in southern and south eastern England and was accepted by Hampshire Teachers' Liaison Panel (TLP). This pattern is, however, still the subject of some debate following a belated national agreement between the Local Government Association (LGA) and one of the teacher professional associations.

3 Future consultations

3.1 Following publication of the 2005/2006 dates, productive meetings were held between officers of the LEA and the Conditions of Service Working Party (COSWP) of the TLP to agree a fresh approach to future consultations on the school year.

3.2 The following principles were agreed for application to future years in order to establish one agreed pattern of school term and holiday dates which could be sent out to schools for consultation with the approval of both the County Council and the TLP:

(a) To establish a calendared school year of 195 days so that individual institutions are free to select their five professional days locally.

(b) To retain a Christmas holiday of two full weeks incorporating three weekends and a summer break of more than five weeks and as close to six weeks as is possible.

(c) To establish the spring break as the first complete week in April plus one of the two adjacent weeks. Where Easter falls outside this period, it will form a four day weekend, to include Good Friday and Bank Holiday Monday.

(d) To start the academic year on 1 September, or as soon after as is possible but not before.

(e) To attempt to achieve as much balance in the six half termly sessions as is possible within the confines of national holidays.

(f) To seek regional agreement on school term and holiday dates to minimise cross-boundary difficulties for school staff and parents.

3.3 At a meeting in September 2004 an additional principle was agreed:

(g) Any pattern of school term and holiday dates sent out for consultation with schools must be acceptable to the Executive Member for Education and TLP. Any recommendations made by the National Standing Committee, should be considered when determining the dates.

3.4 These principles were applied to the school year 2006/2007, resulting in a pattern of term and holiday dates accepted by COSWP as being the most logical within current constraints. It is, however, acknowledged that the permanent move of the spring bank holiday to the first Monday in June would lead to more balance in the length of school sessions in 2006/2007 and in future years.

3.5 If the National Standing Committee propose a significantly different pattern for 2006/2007, which is acceptable to the Executive Member for Education and TLP, this will also be sent to schools for consideration.

4 Other options considered

4.1 There are no other options being considered.

5 Legal implications

5.1 None.

6 Financial implications

6.1 None.

7 Personnel implications

7.1 Consultations with teacher professional associations have taken place prior to wider consultation with schools. The responses to these consultations inform the final recommendations for the school year dates 2006/2007.

8 Impact assessment

8.1 Race and equality impact assessment has been considered in the development of this report and no adverse impact has been identified.

9 Crime prevention issues

9.1 The impact on crime and disorder has been considered in the development of this report and no adverse impact has been identified.

10 Views of the local County Councillor

10.1 This is a county-wide proposal and as such the views of the Executive Member for Education are sought through this report.

Recommendations

1 That approval is given to consult schools on term and holiday dates for the academic year 2006/2007 by sending out a pattern of proposed dates which have the support of Hampshire County Council and the Teachers' Liaison Panel and inviting schools to comment.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background documents

The following documents discuss facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have 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.

None.