The NASUWT's general secretary, Eamonn O'Kane, said that as any changes in the pattern of the school year would be determined by LEAs, it was 'imperative that local education chiefs talk to teachers to assess the impact any alteration of term dates may have on schools in their area'.
A motion to the union's annual conference in Bournemouth last week regretted that the six-term year, also known as the standard school year, 'seems to be creeping up on schools without full national debate involving the trade unions'.
The motion also deplored the fact that some LEAs were pushing ahead with changes despite opposition from teachers' representatives, and it called on the NASUWT national executive to resist, 'in line with current policy and with the support of members, any local changes to accepted holiday patterns'.
Mr O'Kane said the plans to change the school year appeared to involve 'much pain for little gain'. Teachers with children at school in different LEAs to the ones in which they work, he said, might have to pay for childcare if they were teaching while their children were on holiday.
He said that varying term times across the country could also have a bad impact on exams. 'Examining boards can only schedule exams when the majority of pupils are in school, so LEAs which choose to move the summer break to earlier in the year may find difficulties in ensuring exams are invigilated while teachers are on holiday,' Mr O'Kane added.
According to the Local Government Association, as of 1 April, 18 LEAs around England have decided in principle to implement the standard school year proposals.
