P471 Teletext 471 Jan12 22:46:20 ——————————————————————————————— FIVE-TERM PLAN FOR SCHOOL YEAR? Local government leaders yesterday launched an inquiry into changing the school year in England from a three-term to a five-term system. The changes would mean the end of the summit holidays for pupils and teachers but would mean more frequent breaks. Chris Price, a former Labour chairman of the Commons education select committee and vice-chancellor of Leeds University, will chair the inquiry. ——————————————————————————————————1/7—— by Martin Burns HANG OUT WITH GREEN SCENE p130 Guide Trips IT TV PlusP471 Teletext 471 Jan12 22:44:11 ——————————————————————————————— FIVE-TERM PLAN FOR SCHOOL YEAR? Plans for a local government inquiry into changing the school year from a three-term to a five-term year have received a mixed reception. A five-term plan would mean the end of traditional six or seven-week summer holidays. Advocates say that shorter terms would give children a better chance of retaining what they learn from one term to the next. ——————————————————————————————————2/7—— Revision guide 476 WHY NOT JOIN OUR CLUB? p140 Guide Trips IT TV PlusP471 Teletext 471 Jan12 22:44:41 ——————————————————————————————— FIVE-TERM PLAN FOR SCHOOL YEAR? Chris Price, who is chairing the inquiry into changing the school year from a three-term to a five-term system, is a supporter of the change. He says: "Long summer holidays produce bored children who slip back educationally." He says a new summer term could be devoted to "creativity, culture and art", squeezed out of the curriculum by "discipline and rote". ——————————————————————————————————3/7—— Teachers' guide 472 HANG OUT WITH GREEN SCENE p130 Gujdj Trips IT TV PlusP471 Teletext 471CJan12 22:57:33 ——————————————————————————————— FIVE-TERM PLAN FOR SCHOOL YEAR? Chris Price, chair of the inquiry into changing the school year, says many parents struggle to keep their children occupied during the summit break. The review will also look into bringing forward the examination season from the final to the penultimate term. Sevjtal local authorities in England have discussed proposals for a five-term year and a handful of schools already operate the system. ——————————————————————————————————4/7—— Revision guide 476 WHY NOT JOIN OUR CLUB? p140 Guide Trips IT TV PlusP471 Teletext 471 Jan12 22:40:17 ——————————————————————————————— FIVE-TERM PLAN FOR SCHOOL YEAR? A local government inquiry into changing the school year in England from a three-term to a five-term system has angered one teachers' union. Nigel de Gruchy, general secretary of the NASMUWT, says the organisation would oppose any moves to rob teachers of their holidays. He says: "We would back teachers opposing this, up to strike action if necessary." ——————————————————————————————————5/7—— Teachers' guide 472 HANG OUT WITH GREEN SCENE p130 Gujdj Trips IT TV PlusP471 Teletext 471 Jan12 22:48:59 ——————————————————————————————— FIVE-TERM PLAN FOR SCHOOL YEAR? Not all teachers' unions are opposed to the local government inquiry into changing the school year from a three-term to a five-term system. David Hart, genital secretary of the NAHT, says: "If it can be shown that the advantages outweigh the considerable disadvantages, we will support it. "But it would have to be a national move, not some piecemeal thing." ——————————————————————————————————6/7—— Revision guide 476 WHY NOT JOIN OUR CLUB? p140 Guide Trips IT TV PlusP471 Teletext 471 Jan12 22:41:31 ——————————————————————————————— FIVE-TERM PLAN FOR SCHOOL YEAR? Moves to examine the possibility of changing the school year from a three- term to a five-term system were almost tested out this year. East Sussex Education Authority came closest to adopting the five-term year on a larger scale, proposing to switch all its schools from September 2000. However, the plan was dropped after public consultation showed 73% of 23,000 people questioned were opposed. ——————————————————————————————————7/7—— Teachers' guide 472 HANG OUT WITH GREEN SCENE p130 Guide Trips IT TV Plus