HAMPSHIRE County Council has been strongly criticised for being ÒprematureÓ in its decision to take the lead in adopting a six-term school year.

Despite assurances that implementation of the new set-up would be subject to further negotiations, the NASUWT believes that Hampshire has been Òunnecessarily provocativeÓ in putting forward a proposal which, in its present form Òcould not be deliveredÓ.

It is a concern which, according to Alton- based NASUWT representative Pat Lerew, is held by many local teachers.

ÒTeachers know that in its suggested form the new system will be undeliverable and if it goes ahead as planned, HCC could have a fight on its hands,Ó she warns.

ÒMost teachers can see that the present school calendar is not perfect, but feel that the whole issue needs further debate at national level,Ó she said.

Mrs LerewÕs statement follows an announcement by HCC education spokesman Don Allen, which has been condemned by many union members as being Òtoo gung-hoÓ in its delivery.

They are fearful that, unless negotiations are carried out at national level, Hampshire could find itself isolated in its bid to champion the new school year, with other LEAs not prepared to take the plunge.

HCC Cabinet members voted unanimously to support proposals which, subject to further negotiation, could see the school year changed from three to six terms, possibly from September 2004.

The decision came after a consultation exercises in the county, involving over 7,000 people giving their views on the national proposals put forward by the Local Government Association (LGA).

Mrs Lerew says the most positive support came from parents who thought it would get over the problem of having to provide child care to cover occasional professional in-service days.

ÒThe suggested calendar of at least five weeks holiday in the summer, and two weeks in October, Christmas, and Easter, plus one week in February and June, is not deliverable against a 195-day working year, which is the number of days required of teachers.

ÒIt only works with the 190 days required of pupils, and therefore leads to a worsening of teachersÕ conditions of service, since professional in-service days would have to be taken during the holidays,Ó points out Mrs Lerew.

ÒContrary to the LGA, we consider that any proposal to alter the pattern of the school year is a national conditions of service issue and therefore should not be negotiated at LEA or school level.

ÒIf necessary, it should be negotiated by our national officers with the LGA nationally,Ó says Mrs Lerew.

Contrary to Mr AllenÕs statement, the NASUWT claims that there is Òno sustainable educational argumentÓ to move from the present three-term year, divided into six blocks, to a six-term year.

ÒThe changes proposed merely tinker around with the term dates and any advantages are far outweighed by disadvantages.

ÒTwo significant effects will be in relation to the operation of the public examination system and the high risk of increased truancy, as parents as well as pupils will see little educational value in the sixth-term,Ó warns Mrs Lerew.

ÒOne of the advantages promulgated is that there would be terms of equal length. Under the present system the only term which causes this variation is the spring term, which is dependent on Easter for length and has a knock-on effect on the others. Fixing Easter, or at least the Easter holiday, would remedy this.

ÒWe see no advantage to starting the autumn term earlier and having a break of ten to 14 days in October. The long summer break, which we consider essential, means most teachers are refreshed for the first half of the autumn term and any gains from the extra daysÕ break would vanish in the run-up to Christmas.Ó

Staff who live over the border in Surrey have real fears, she says, that they could find themselves in a situation where their children have different school terms to themselves.

Mrs Lerew is adamant: ÒThe NASUWT view is that Hampshire County Council has got to listen to the people working in schools who understand the ramifications of the proposed six-term year which, unless negotiated at national level, will be undeliverable.Ó