SCHOOLS in Kent could move to a six-term by 2005 in one of the biggest shake-ups in the county’s education system for decades.

County councillors will decide next week whether to push ahead with the switch, which would affect all Kent’s 621 secondary, primary and special schools.

However, they are likely agree to a change only if the education authorities bordering Kent move to a six-term year at the same time.

The possible move away from the traditional three-term year is likely to be resisted by some teaching unions, who have complained it will mean shorter summer holidays.

Allan Craig, of the Kent branch of the teaching union NASUWT, said his members were overwhelmingly opposed.

“There is no real, firm evidence a change would benefit anyone. Kent has many problems in education and this simply distracts the authority’s attention,” he said.

But county education chiefs say it will benefit staff, pupils and parents. They believe shorter terms of standard length will help school planning and overcome “summer learning loss” among pupils.

Cllr Paul Carter (Con), KCC's cabinet member for education, said: “Whatever we do, it is important that we consider the views of neighbouring authorities. I personally do believe there is a strong case for change on the basis of what the professionals in schools have told us.”

KCC held talks in January with its neighbouring education authorities. Nearly all are understood to support the principle of a move away from the traditional three-term year, with most favouring a six-term year.

However, all the councils involved believe a co-ordinated switch is vital to minimise disruption and confusion.

They include East Sussex, Bromley, Bexley and Surrey. But Medway Council – Kent’s closest neighbour – has said it could favour a move to a five-term year. Medway councillors were also considering what to do this week.

A report to be presented to KCC’s ruling Conservative cabinet sets out the possible dates for a six-term year starting in 2005.

Pupils would return to school immediately after the August Bank Holiday – reducing the summer holiday by about a week. The other key changes would mean a two-week holiday in October and a fixed two-week break in April.

In some years this may not always coincide with Easter, although the provisional dates for 2005 suggest the Easter Bank Holiday would fall within that break.

However, the report does also leave open the option for KCC to retain the status quo.

Some 19,000 people responded to a survey KCC carried out last year, with three out of four respondents backing a six term year.