Surrey schools will see changes to the Easter holidays from 2006

The county council has decided to retain a three-term academic year but with some modifications.

Councillors rejected the six-term idea after canvassing the views of parents, school staff, governors and businesses across the county.

But in two years time the Easter holiday will be replaced with a two-week break at a fixed point in April.

This will mean that pupils may sometimes just get a long weekend off for Easter, in the middle of term time.

'Important issue'

Surrey County Council received more than 21,000 responses from people and organisations, giving their views on which option for the structuring of the school year they preferred.

The council said just under 33% were in favour of a six-term year, while 25.8% preferred making no changes at all.

The largest group - 41.3% of respondents - voted to bring in the three-term year with a fixed April holiday, which would start in the 2005-2006 academic year.

Kay Hammond of Surrey County Council said: "We received in excess of 21,250 responses to the consultation document which shows just how important this issue is to residents.

"More than 40% of those who responded were in favour of introducing a fixed spring break.

"The holiday in early April will even out the length of the spring and summer terms, which will enable schools to plan curriculum activities more effectively.

"The total number of days that pupils and teachers attend school will not change."

The council will now contact its 14 neighbouring local education authorities to inform them of their decision, hoping that others will also adopted the fixed spring break, making life easier for parents who have children at schools in other regions.