WHAT DO you think about the school year?A wide-ranging consultation is being launched in Suffolk to find out our views on national proposals to change the way in which the school year is organised.

WHAT DO you think about the school year?

A wide-ranging consultation is being launched in Suffolk to find out our views on national proposals to change the way in which the school year is organised.

Teachers, school governors, parents, local businesses, and education organisations in the county are all being invited to put forward their views on the proposal to introduce a six-term year. MORI are also carrying out a survey involving members of the Suffolk Speaks citizens panel.

The six-term year idea has been drawn up by an independent commission, following extensive national consultation. The commission's proposals would alter the current pattern of the school year from three terms to six terms of a more standard length, with the aim of helping to raise education standards and reduce teacher and pupil stress caused by long terms.

Now local education authorities across the country have been asked to give their opinions on the matter, and Suffolk County Council is carrying out a consultation to help its executive committee make a decision on whether to support the proposals.

Tony Lewis, member of the council's executive committee said: "We are looking forward to hearing people's views about the proposals. Nothing has been agreed by the county council as yet, so we hope that parents, teachers and members of the public will take this opportunity to tell us what they think."

Betty Milburn, chair of the county council's learning for life theme panel said: "The theme panel considered the proposals from the independent commission, and what they might mean for Suffolk. We felt it was important to get some feedback from local people on how they felt they might be affected by the six-term year."

People who would like to put forward their views can do so through the county council's website: www.suffolkcc.gov.uk/education/sixtermscon, or in writing to David Thornton, Deputy Director of Education, at Education Department, St Andrew House, County Hall, Ipswich, IP4 1LJ.

The county council's executive committee will make a decision later this year about whether to support the national proposals.