A proposed radical overhaul of the academic timetable could revolutionise school holidays. Education correspondent Dawn Turnbull spoke to those who could be affected by the changes

l The number of terms in the school year would be doubled to six

l There would be a fixed two-week Easter break

l The six-week summer holiday would be moved forward to the beginning of July

l Term six would be used for "cultural activities" and helping pupils start the next stage of their education.

l Pupils would sit A-levels and GCSEs in April and May. One of the reasons behind the move would be to help hayfever sufferers whose symptoms can be at their worst during the exam period in June.

MOVES for a radical shake-up in the organisation of the school year have drawn a mixed response in the region.

The changes, recommended in a report to the Local Government Association published this week, would include six terms instead of three and exams in April and May instead of June.

David Henderson, headteacher at Hummersknott School, in Darlington, said: "There could be advantages with this system. From an educational point of view, between summer and Christmas, teachers and pupils can become tired.

"Educationally, after about eight weeks is the time to have a break.

"It could also help hayfever sufferers if the exams were pushed back to earlier in the year. But if you push it too far back, then you could get into the period where there are colds and flu.

"Another advantage could be a shorter time between GCSEs and going back to school. We could get cracking much earlier."

Parent Gill Hope, of Darlington, whose daughter has just passed her GCSEs and whose son is about to begin his, said: "The summer break is very long. It could be better if they made that shorter and had more breaks later and earlier in the year."

But Nyomi Winter, of Ferryhill, County Durham, who has just achieved top results in her GCSEs, did not think the system should be changed.

She said: "Although some of my friends do say they get tired close to the end of term, I have always found it okay."

Doug McAvoy, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: "We cannot see any advantage in real educational terms.

"We think that the proposed changes will be extraordinarily disruptive and without having any clear benefit to anyone. Our schools, colleges and universities are all organised around the current academic year."

But doctors in the region could see the benefits for those plagued by hayfever.

Dr Harry Gribbin, a respiratory specialist at South Cleveland Hospital, said: "Students are sitting their exams at one of the peak times for pollen."

Canon Bob Spence, Vicar General of the diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, said he would not object to the change as long as pupils were still given the chance to commemorate Easter.

He said: "Even with the changed holidays, Good Friday and Easter Sunday would still be days off for the children."