DAILY ECHO readers have given plans for a six-term school year a resolute thumbs down.

We asked readers to let us know their opinions by letter, by phone and on the Internet - and the result is a resounding NO.

A crushing 71 per cent of parents opposed the move, preferring the three-term status quo.

But education bosses in Southampton and Hampshire have already decided to make the switch from three terms to six after a period of consultation.

From September 2004, youngsters across the region will find a different system on their return to school, which is as follows:

Two terms before Christmas, neither of more than 38 days

A two-week break in October

A two-week Christmas break

Four terms after Christmas, all a maximum of six weeks.

A summer break always of five weeks or more

Experts think the new system will offer youngsters a better learning environment and combat "learning loss" - when children forget lessons over the summer holidays.

But parents who contacted the Daily Echo clearly didn't want to change long-established habits.

The full results saw 71.2 per cent against the six-term switch, with 24 per cent backing it and just 4.8 per cent yet to make up their mind.

However, a spokeswoman for the City Council said: "Southampton City Council carried out an extensive survey which included parents of thousands of children in Southampton schools.

"The results of that consultation revealed that 66 per cent of parents supported a move to a six-term school year."

Councillor Don Allen, Hampshire's education boss, was also confident about the effectiveness of his consultation exercise.

"We gave the whole of the county the chance to express their views on proposals to adopt a six- term school year and received comments from more than 7,000. The majority of those who responded were in favour of the change and the educational benefits it would bring."

Mum-of-two Karen Flack wants to keep things as they are.

She said: "We would be against any change to the summer break as this is the one time the children really relax.

Another parent, Mark Price, couldn't see the point of the change. He said: "Teachers don't want it, families don't want it and it won't make a jot of difference to the kids' education.

"I cannot see any justification for making these changes."