Plans would cause havoc, say teachers' union

Almost two out of three who voted in a preliminary ballot said they would strike over plans by Essex County Council to make the changes in September.

The plans are to cut the summer holiday and fix the Easter break a fortnight after the Easter weekend.

The union says the summer holiday will be cut to four full weeks, but the council says it will be cut to five weeks from the present level of just over five.

'Havoc'

The ballot was carried out by the NASUWT teachers' union, who say the plans would create "havoc" because neighbouring counties would have different holidays.

Eamonn O'Kane, the general secretary of the NASUWT, says Essex has 11 neighbouring local authorities.

"Such different holiday patterns will create havoc for working parents with children in schools in both Essex and its neighbouring LEAs.

"Teachers in Essex with children in schools in neighbouring LEAs will miss out on spending time with their family so may choose not to work in the county.

"Secondly, NASUWT is keen to retain and protect the six-week summer holiday as it is one of the most attractive features of the profession.

"The long break encourages people to become, and remain, teachers."

Essex councillor Iris Pummell, who is the cabinet member for education said she was disappointed by the union's stance.

She said it did not complain about the plans during the consulation period, only after the decision was taken.

"We agree with our schools that it is the educational advantages of the new school year which are so important.

"It prevents either the spring or the summer terms being excessively long, " she said.

Only a "tiny proportion" of the 200,000 school-age children in Essex would be affected by neighbouring authorities operating different holiday times, the council said.

'Less tired'

Many local authorities in England are considering switching to a six-term year and are at various stages of consultation.

Under the plans, terms would be shorter, with the long term from September to Christmas broken in two, with a two-week break in the middle.

Supporters say a six-term school year will help raise standards because pupils will respond better to shorter terms because they will be less tired.

The NASUWT received sent out 3,160 ballot papers and received 827 responses.

Of those 553 said they would strike over the issue.

The figure for those who would support industrial action short of a strike was 704.