Pupils at an Essex school are set to lead the way with a proposal for a revolutionary revamp of their term times.

If agreed, the major shake-up will make the Greensward School, Hockley, the first secondary school nationally to have its academic year divided into five terms, instead of the traditional three.

Consultation papers on the proposal were due to be winging their way to parents of pupils at the grant maintained school this week.

Parents of the four feeder primary schools - Ashingdon, Hockley, Plumberow and Westerings - will also be consulted.

The ground-breaking suggestion is from headteacher David Triggs.

He believes both teachers and pupils suffer from terms which are too long and stressful, hampering commitment and achievement.

Mr Triggs said: "Research suggests the learning gains from having shorter terms is phenomenal.

"The long summer break is time enough for pupils to regress enormously."

Mr Triggs added that early feedback indicated the proposal would be well received.

He said: "Eight or nine weeks of concentrated learning followed by a short holiday would enable students to apply maximum concentration and motivation. No term would be devalued due to tiredness or stress on both students and staff as holidays are frequent enough to be effective refreshers."

"The current term breaks date back more than 100 years to when youngsters were needed in the summer to help bring in the crops."

Education chiefs feel it is now time to bring term times into the millennium and in tune with the country's 15 city technology colleges which all operate a five-term academic year.

A spokesman for Essex County Council's education department said: "The three-term academic year has been around for a long time and that will generate a certain amount of reluctance to change - but change can sometimes be for the better."

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