WEST Craven's traditional school terms could be scrapped and the area brought into line with the rest of Lancashire under a new standardised six-term school year.

Lancashire County Council is embarking on a two-month consultation on proposals to move to a six-term school year across the county. It would bring Burnley and Pendle schools - including those in West Craven - into line with the rest of Lancashire.

The move would mean more equal school terms and more frequent, but shorter, breaks between terms. Pupils and teachers would continue to work the same number of days per year.

Schools in Burnley and Pendle have different term times to most of the country, harking back to the days when most people worked in textile mills that closed down for two weeks in the summer - known as the "wakes weeks".

Even now, many local firms still expect their employees to take the traditional wakes weeks as holidays and organise their business on that basis.

Previous proposals to change the traditional school term times have met with opposition from parents in the area.

Now they are being invited to give their views once more.

Arnold Kuchartschuk, headteacher at West Craven High Technology College in Barnoldswick, said the school governors would be considering the document in detail and taking part in the consultation.

"It needs to be opened up to debate," said Mr Kuchartschuk. "There are a lot of pros and cons on both sides and the change is worth considering, but the key criteria must be what is most beneficial to the young people we serve and their families."

The school currently operates on a four-term pattern, with a six-week summer holiday beginning in early July.

"School holidays are important times and our young people need time away from school to grow and develop. It's for the whole community to take part in this consultation," said Mr Kuchartschuk.

The county council says its proposal to move to a six-term year would raise educational standards by offering a predictable and standardised timetable for the school year.

Some of the key features of the new six-term year are:

o A late August start date for term one.

o Two terms before Christmas with no more than 38 days in each.

o A two-week October break.

o The Christmas break should never be less than two weeks.

o Four terms after Christmas each limited to a maximum of six weeks.

o Easter is no longer the determining factor between terms four and five, with Easter Bank Holidays to be recognised in their own right, if falling outside the two-week break.

o A summer break which is always more than five weeks.

o Five days each year to be determined by school governing bodies.

County Councillor Alan Whittaker explained: "These proposals have been put together by the Local Government Association to modernise the school year. Councils across the country are looking to move towards a standard school year consisting of six terms which, it is felt, will improve the running of schools.

"The consultation document gives details of what is proposed and what the likely effects would be. I want to give everyone a chance to give their views before a decision is taken."

David Whipp, county councillor for West Craven, said he was not against the principle of a six-term school year, but would not want to see the local summer holiday moved into peak season, when holiday companies charged their highest rates.

"This consultation is about education, but I think the non-educational aspects also need to be carefully weighed in the balance," said Coun Whipp.

"The fact that people in this area have been able to book cheaper holidays is an important one. Our wages in this area are lower than the national average, so that's not to be ignored. In some other areas, there has been a tendency for parents to take their children out of school in term time to take cheaper holidays, and that can't be a good thing.

"In that respect I would tend to say 'hands off our wakes weeks'."

Copies of the consultation document are available from local libraries and schools, or by calling 01772 261633. You can also take part in the consultation on-line at the county council's website, www.lancashire.gov.uk