HAMPSHIRE will become one of the first counties in England to pilot a six-term year in its schools.

Members of the county council's Cabinet agreed unanimously to support the change from September 2004 after agreeing it would bring educational benefits to pupils, teachers and support staff.

Tiredness among staff and pupils would be reduced and pupils would remember more after a shorter summer break.

The proposal is to have two terms before Christmas with a two-week October break and a fortnight's holiday over the festive period. There would be four terms after Christmas, all limited to a maximum of six weeks and a summer break of at least five weeks.

Executive member for education Councillor Don Allen said: "I am entirely satisfied that this is a way to improve learning for pupils, the learning environment and raising standards in schools. It is a fact that the most frequent complaint I have received from teachers has been the effect of tiredness."

But he added that unions must be fully consulted about the plans - particularly with regard to "inset" or teaching days.

Unions fear they could take place outside term time.

The news comes just days after Southampton City Council revealed that its consultations into the six-term year scheme showed parents and school staff narrowly backed the idea - just as they did in Hampshire.

That news leaves the way clear for city bosses to seriously consider the plan as well. Southampton education boss Councillor Richard Harris is to make his decision on Tuesday, January 21.

Spokesman for the National Association of Head Teachers John Adams said: "The impact of this is potentially enormous - education is a massive industry and in every location.

"I think having the spring term fixed will be helpful, but beyond that I think the full impact of a six-term year will take longer to implement because it will require a very thorough consultation.

"If we are to get the full benefits we need terms that are as close to equal as possible and it has to be done nationally. If it is not, we will have disruption across many of the local education authority borders, with individual LEAs fixing their own termly timetables.

"This is not about the comfort of teachers, it is about the parents. People need to know this is not about the benefit of the profession."

He warned the decision could lead to a rise in youngsters being taken out of school early for holidays.

Mr Adams said: "If the holiday period gets shorter by a week or two, holidays will get even more expensive. Parents will then be more likely to take their children out of school early."