SCHOOLS in Kent will move to a six-term year from 2005, county education chiefs have confirmed.

Every KCC-run primary and secondary school will be affected by the switch, which will begin next September.

However, KCC has headed off a potential clash with the teaching unions by broadly preserving the long summer holiday.

The key change is that the Easter Holiday will become a fixed break in the first two full weeks of April each year.

The Easter Bank Holidays will remain as school holidays if they fall outside this period. However, in the first year of the new KCC timetable they will fall within the fixed break.

According to KCC, the move means the school year will be divided into six terms, each of roughly equal length. No term will last longer than about seven weeks and most will be around six.

Schools chiefs believe this will help make curriculum planning easier for head teachers and help overcome some of the factors associated with long terms, particularly in the Autumn.

Cllr Paul Carter, KCC's cabinet member for education, said he hoped the changes would benefit pupils.

“Some might say the changes are modest but I believe this new standard school year will provide a more predictable calendar and one which schools will find beneficial."

He added: "I believe we have addressed the concerns which schools, parents and teaching unions have raised. They were understandably concerned at any radical changes to the school calendar."

Alan Craig, of the Kent branch of the NASUWT, was cautious about the shake-up. “We have not seen the final timetable but our members would be opposed to any reduction in the summer holiday. There has not been any firm evidence that this will bring any benefits,” he said.

Schools outside KCC’s control, such as foundation and voluntary aided church schools, will continue to set their own dates. KCC hopes most will adopt the new arrangements.