Schools meeting lures just one parent

Brighton and Hove City Council education chief David Hawker said he was pleased the event had been held in public despite the attendance.

Last night's meeting at the Learning Development Centre in Hodshrove Way, Moulsecoomb, was called to discuss how to run a consultation to take place during the autumn on whether to change over to the six-term year.

Mr Hawker said: "I think something went wrong with the information coming out from schools. I don't think anybody actually told the parents.

"But it achieved its objective in terms of how we should run the consultation. We could have had this as just a group of officers meeting behind closed doors."

He stressed no decision had been taken and there would be talks with parents and pupils before councillors vote, probably in December.

Whatever happens in Brighton and Hove could depend on decisions by county councils in East and West Sussex, which are running similar consultations.

Mr Hawker said: "If they chose something that most of our parents don't want that puts us in a very difficult position."

The council might be forced to revisit whatever decision it makes if both neighbouring authorities decide to operate a different system.

Under the plan the traditional school year would be replaced by six shorter terms, each of six or seven weeks. There would be a five-week summer break, at least two weeks at Christmas, and fixed breaks between other terms.

The timing of the Easter break could be flexible to correspond to the Easter holidays.

Many councils are considering adopting the system, which would not begin operating in Brighton and Hove until at least the start of the 2005/06 school year.

Parents will be sent letters about the proposal in the next two weeks. Leaflets will be sent out at the start of the autumn term.

A major consultation meeting is expected to be held at Hove Town Hall in late September. Schools could also hold their own meetings.