A MOVE for all Kent schools to switch to a five-term year has been dropped.

Headteachers have rejected the idea of another shake-up in the school year and following consultation, Kent County Council is to stick by its existing arrangements.

A working party of primary and secondary head teachers Kent was set up to conduct a review after claims a shake-up of the school year could improve attendance, boost standards, reduce stress on staff and pupils and make better use of “unproductive time” after exams.

The review followed concerns among heads that the introduction in Kent of what is known as the six-term year in 2005 had failed to produce any benefits.

But county education chiefs have abandoned the idea after there was no clear support for any change among headteachers. KCC has also ruled out the introduction of a two-week break in the autum term.

Kent moved to a six-term year in 2005. The switch was supposed to help even out the length of school terms. It also fixed the Easter break.

But despite the reorganisation, there have continued to be terms ranging from five to eight weeks.