Subject: Circular M21/04 - Standardisation of School Year
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Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2006 16:28:35 -0000

Circular
M21/04

To
the Managerial Authorities of Primary and Post Primary
schools

Implementation
of Modernisation under Sustaining Progress

Standardisation of the School
Year

In
line with the requirements of Sustaining Progress agreement has been reached
between the parties to the Teachers' Conciliation Council in relation to the
standardisation of the breaks at Christmas, Easter and mid-term in the first and
second terms.

In
reaching agreement the parties took cognizance of a number of relevant
factors:

the
objective of avoiding problems for families which can be caused by variation
in closure arrangements where children are attending different schools

the
requirement for a school to be open for a minimum of 167 days at post-primary
level and 183 days at primary level

the
date of the bank holiday in June and in consequence the effective end of the
school year and commencement date of the Certificate
Examinations

the
proximity of St. Patrick's Day to Easter

the
difference in the length of the school year at primary and post-primary level
and the potential for a lengthy final term in the primary sector depending on
when Easter falls

the
timing of the bank holiday in October

how
proximate Christmas Day is in relation to a week-end

the
desirability of having a reasonable interval between the end of term and
Christmas

The
agreement reached covers the arrangements that will apply in all schools from
the start of the 2004/2005 school year and covers four school years. The parties
will review the operation of the arrangements not later than spring of 2007 for
the purpose of agreeing the arrangements that will apply subsequently and have
agreed that in the event that any unforeseen difficulty arises in relation to
the operation of the arrangements now agreed the matter can be raised at the
Teachers Conciliation Council.

Schools are required to be open to receive all pupils
on the weekday immediately preceding and immediately following each break period
covered by this agreement.

School
Year 2004/05

October 2004 mid-term
break

All schools will
close from 25th to 29th October 2004
inclusive

Christmas
2004

All schools will
close on 22nd December 2004 which will be the final day of the school
term.  All schools will re-open on
10th January 2005.

February 2005 mid-term
break

Post-Primary
schools will close from 14th to 18th February 2005
inclusive.

Primary schools
will close from 17th to 18th February 2005 inclusive.   (Primary schools may use 3
discretionary days to extend this break to an alternative option of a 5 day
break).

Easter
2005

All schools will
close on 23rd March 2005 which will be the final day of the school term.  All schools will re-open on
4th April 2005.

School
Year 2005/06

October 2005 mid-term
break

All schools will
close from 31st October to 4th November 2005
inclusive

Christmas
2005

All schools will
close on 22nd December 2005 which will be the final day of the school term.  All schools will re-open on
9th January 2006

February 2006 mid-term
break

Post-Primary
schools will close from 13th to 17th February 2006
inclusive.

Primary schools
will close from 16th to 17th February 2006 inclusive.   (Primary schools may use 3
discretionary days to extend this break to an alternative option of a 5 day
break).

Easter
2006

All schools will
close on 7th April which will be the final day of the school
term.  All schools will re-open on
24th April 2006.

School
Year 2006/07

October 2006 mid-term
break

All schools will
close from 30th October to 3rd November 2006
inclusive

Christmas
2006

All schools will
close on 22nd December 2006 which will be the final day of the school
term.  All  schools will re-open on 8th
January 2007

February 2007 mid-term
break

Post-Primary
schools will close from 19th to 23rd February 2007
inclusive.

Primary schools
will close from 22nd to 23rd February 2007 inclusive.
(Primary schools may use 3 discretionary days to extend this break to an
alternative option of a 5 day break).

Easter
2007

All schools will
close on 30th March 2007 which will be the final day of the school
term.  All schools will re-open on
16th April 2007.

School
Year 2007/08

October 2007 mid-term
break

All schools will
close from 29th October to 2nd November 2007
inclusive

Christmas
2007

All schools will
close on 21st December 2007 which will be the final day of the school
term.  All schools will re-open on
7th January 2008

February 2008 mid-term
break

Post-Primary
schools will close from 11th to 15th February 2008
inclusive.

Primary schools
will close from 14th to 15th February 2008 inclusive.   (Primary schools may use 3
discretionary days to extend this break to an alternative option of a 5 day
break).

Easter
2008

All schools will
close on 14th March 2008 which will be the final day of the school
term.  All schools will re-open on
31st March 2008.

Religious
Observance and standardisation

The above
arrangements are agreed without prejudice to closure on specific days, within
the overall requirement of 167 days at post primary level and 183 days at
primary level, dictated by religious observance that is required in schools
under the patronage of different denominations or faiths.

In the absence of
an adequate number of discretionary days a school authority may choose to
utilize a religious observance day for non-tuition purposes when planning the
school year.

Extent of
flexibility

It was not a
requirement of this agreement that the commencement or end of the school year
either at primary or post primary level should be standardised.  However while schools may use their
discretionary days, where available, to determine the precise start and end of
the school year, it is recognised the commencement of Certificate examinations
will mean that post primary schools will not be open for tuition beyond the
Friday preceding the June bank holiday in any year. The expectation is that in
order to meet the overall requirement of a minimum of 167 at post primary level
or 183 days at primary level the school year will normally commence in the week
that 1st September falls.

The arrangements may provide some limited
flexibility to schools on certain other days outside of the defined
periods.  The scheduling of such
days must not be used to extend or modify the periods set out above in respect
of mid-term and Christmas and Easter breaks save where religious observance
requirements of a school under a particular patronage make this necessary.

Outstanding issues arising from
2003/2004 arrangements

Having regard to
difficulties encountered in relation to these arrangements, the arrangements for
parent /teacher meetings and staff meetings as notified by schools to the
Department of Education and Science or which it is anticipated will be notified
to the Department the parties acknowledge that this agreement in relation to the
next 4 school years removes any uncertainty and confusion that may have
prevailed.  Furthermore the parties
agree that all schools that experienced a difficulty whether notified already to
the Department or still to be notified will ensure that

over the balance of the school year the minimum 167
and 183 day requirement is satisfied and

any loss of tuition will be addressed at school
level.

You are
requested to provide a copy of this Circular to the parents’ and

teachers’
representatives on Boards of Management.

Matthew
Ryan,

Principal
Officer.

23 March
2004.