CHANGES have been agreed that will see a shake up to the school calendar.

Last night's Cabinet meeting of Swindon Council rubber-stamped the Education Partnership Board's decision to move to a six term year.

But headteachers have criticised the plans, which will be introduced in the 2004 to 2005 school year.

They say the council has missed out on the chance to make more radical changes.

Pupils will be relieved to hear that the long summer break will remain in place, with a guarantee it will last at least five weeks and one day.

The major difference is that the spring time Easter break will not be linked directly to the date Easter falls on.

This will mean an end to the situation that creates a spring term which can be up to four weeks longer than the summer one.

Council officers carried out a consultation exercise but Councillor Nick Martin (Con, Shaw and Nine Elms) said he was disappointed at the low response. Only 193 parents responded to a letter suggesting the changes, with 137 in favour, 55 against and one no comment.

He said: "There are more than 19,000 students in Swindon's schools, and the changes to a six term year will be significant to parents and families."

Neighbouring Wiltshire and South Gloucestershire councils have both adopted the six term year, so if Swindon had chosen a more radical proposal it could have spelt trouble for parents living on the borders of the two authorities.

In West Swindon, for example, many children attend Swindon primary schools but go to Bradon Forest secondary, which is run by Wiltshire County Council.

Speaking outside the cabinet meeting, the town's headteachers were underwhelmed by the plans.

Commonweal School headteacher Keith Defter, who is chairman of the Swindon Association of Secondary Heads, said he was indifferent at the proposals.

He said: "I'm indifferent, the whole country has missed an opportunity to go to something more radical and effective like a five term year.

"At least we will not have the ludicrous situation at Easter this year which gave us a term three weeks and four days long."

Swindon Association of Primary Heads chairman Michael Keeling, of Even Swindon Infant School, said: "A lot of people are wondering what the point of the changes actually are.

"From what I have seen I can't imagine it will affect childcare arrangements that much, especially if people have holidays linked to Easter."

Six weeks is just a long weekend

SCHOOLchildren in Swindon might be relieved to keep their six week long summer holiday, but compared to what our neighbouring countries do, six weeks seems more like a long weekend.

Tom Cockroft of the French Embassy in London explains Gallic children are off from June until September.

The school year takes the form of five terms, each of roughly seven weeks with a two-week break for all holidays apart from summer. But, the exact dates can change between regions.

In Ireland the school year is up for debate at the moment, with individual schools retaining a lot of control over dates. Pupils must spend a minimum of 183 days a year at primary school and 167 days at the equivalent of secondary school.

Most children enjoy a summer break longer than Englands six weeks, some from June to September.

Scottish schools operate a four term year according to a Scottish Executive spokeswoman.

There are three two-week breaks, each in October, at Christmas and at Easter, with a seven week summer holiday starting in late June and returning to school before English pupils in late August.