THE MOST radical shake-up in the school year for schools in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in more than a century has come a step closer following plans by The Local Government Association to increase the number of terms from three to six.

Parents' organisations, schools, trades unions and churches are due to be consulted about the proposals, which could come into force by September 2003 if local authorities agree to the change.

But Pete Sopowski, secretary of Southampton's branch of the National Union of Teachers, said employment contracts for teaching staff would have to be closely looked at before any change could take place.

He said: "There is going to have to be a lot of reorganisation for very little gain. There will have to be very good reasons for these changes, and it will cause problems with teachers' contracts."

Under the commission's proposals, term one of the new school year would begin in August and end in October for a two-week break, before another term no longer than 38 days culminating in the Christmas holiday, which would be less than a fortnight long.

There would be four terms with a maximum length of six weeks after Christmas, with a fortnight's break in April and a summer holiday that was always more than five weeks in length.

Under the proposals, there would also be a floating five days that could be "reallocated" as either holiday or school days by LEAs or individual schools to deal with specific issues.

A spokesman for Hampshire County Council said: "We will be looking at the commission's recommendations and will consult with all our schools over the next year for their views."

Councillor Richard Harris, Cabinet member for education and transport at Southampton City Council, said the council would be undertaking a "wide- ranging consultation" before any final decision to change the term structure took place.

The assistant director of education on the Isle of Wight, Kim Johnson, said a consultation process about possible changes to term structures on the Island would begin in February next year.