COUNTY education chiefs are expected to decide this coming week whether all Kent schools should switch to a six-term year from 2005.

Kent County Council and Medway Council have both agreed to the principle of altering the pattern of the school year but say they will only implement the change if their neighbouring authorities do.

It is expected that the two education authorities, along with the neighbouring authorities of East Sussex, Bexley and Bromley, will co-ordinate a move at the same time, following private talks earlier this month.

An announcement on the term dates for 2005 will have to be made by KCC and Medway this month.

Those who believe the change would benefit pupils and teachers were given a fillip on Thursday when education secretary Charles Clarke signalled that he was now in favour of a shake-up.

Although the issue is not the Government’s responsibility, Mr Clarke said he was “personally attracted to the arguments in favour of standardising the length of the school terms.”

Under the six-term year – sometimes known as the standard year – the key changes would be for six terms of about equal length, leading to longer half-term breaks of about two weeks.

The Easter Holiday would also be fixed but would not be tied to the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

Pupils would also return to school slightly earlier after the summer break, with the traditional six-week holiday cut by about a week.

Cllr Paul Carter (Con), KCC's cabinet member for education, will be responsible for taking the decision.

Teaching unions are resisting change, saying there is no evidence that it will bring improvements.