Circular=20 M21/04

To=20 the Managerial Authorities of Primary and Post Primary=20 schools

Implementation=20 of Modernisation under Sustaining Progress

Standardisation of the School=20 Year

In=20 line with the requirements of Sustaining Progress agreement has been = reached=20 between the parties to the Teachers' Conciliation Council in relation to = the=20 standardisation of the breaks at Christmas, Easter and mid-term in the = first and=20 second terms.

In=20 reaching agreement the parties took cognizance of a number of relevant=20 factors:

the=20 objective of avoiding problems for families which can be caused by = variation=20 in closure arrangements where children are attending different schools =

the=20 requirement for a school to be open for a minimum of 167 days at = post-primary=20 level and 183 days at primary level

the=20 date of the bank holiday in June and in consequence the effective end = of the=20 school year and commencement date of the Certificate=20 Examinations

the=20 proximity of St. Patrick's Day to Easter

the=20 difference in the length of the school year at primary and = post-primary level=20 and the potential for a lengthy final term in the primary sector = depending on=20 when Easter falls

the=20 timing of the bank holiday in October

how=20 proximate Christmas Day is in relation to a week-end=20

the=20 desirability of having a reasonable interval between the end of term = and=20 Christmas

The=20 agreement reached covers the arrangements that will apply in all schools = from=20 the start of the 2004/2005 school year and covers four school years. The = parties=20 will review the operation of the arrangements not later than spring of = 2007 for=20 the purpose of agreeing the arrangements that will apply subsequently = and have=20 agreed that in the event that any unforeseen difficulty arises in = relation to=20 the operation of the arrangements now agreed the matter can be raised at = the=20 Teachers Conciliation Council.

Schools are required to be open to receive = all pupils=20 on the weekday immediately preceding and immediately following each = break period=20 covered by this agreement.

School=20 Year 2004/05

October 2004 = mid-term=20 break

All = schools will=20 close from 25^th to 29^th October 2004=20 inclusive

Christmas=20 2004

All = schools will=20 close on 22^nd December 2004 which will be the final day of = the school=20 term. All schools will = re-open on=20 10^th January 2005.

February 2005 = mid-term=20 break

Post-Primary=20 schools will close from 14^th to 18^th February 2005 = inclusive.

Primary schools=20 will close from 17^th to 18^th February 2005 = inclusive. (Primary schools may use = 3=20 discretionary days to extend this break to an alternative option of a 5 = day=20 break).

Easter=20 2005

All = schools will=20 close on 23rd March 2005 which will be the final day of the school = term. All schools will re-open on=20 4^th April 2005.

School=20 Year 2005/06

October 2005 = mid-term=20 break

All = schools will=20 close from 31^st October to 4^th November 2005=20 inclusive

Christmas=20 2005

All = schools will=20 close on 22nd December 2005 which will be the final day of the school = term. All schools will re-open on=20 9^th January 2006

February 2006 = mid-term=20 break

Post-Primary=20 schools will close from 13^th to 17^th February 2006 = inclusive.

Primary schools=20 will close from 16^th to 17^th February 2006 = inclusive. (Primary schools may use = 3=20 discretionary days to extend this break to an alternative option of a 5 = day=20 break).

Easter=20 2006

All = schools will=20 close on 7^th April which will be the final day of the school=20 term. All schools will = re-open on=20 24^th April 2006.

School=20 Year 2006/07

October 2006 = mid-term=20 break

All = schools will=20 close from 30^th October to 3^rd November 2006=20 inclusive

Christmas=20 2006

All = schools will=20 close on 22^nd December 2006 which will be the final day of = the school=20 term. All schools will re-open on = 8^th=20 January 2007

February 2007 = mid-term=20 break

Post-Primary=20 schools will close from 19^th to 23^rd February 2007 = inclusive.

Primary schools=20 will close from 22^nd to 23^rd February 2007 = inclusive.=20 (Primary schools may use 3 discretionary days to extend this break to an = alternative option of a 5 day break).

Easter=20 2007

All = schools will=20 close on 30^th March 2007 which will be the final day of the = school=20 term. All schools will = re-open on=20 16^th April 2007.

School=20 Year 2007/08

October 2007 = mid-term=20 break

All = schools will=20 close from 29^th October to 2^nd November 2007=20 inclusive

Christmas=20 2007

All = schools will=20 close on 21^st December 2007 which will be the final day of = the school=20 term. All schools will = re-open on=20 7th January 2008

February 2008 = mid-term=20 break

Post-Primary=20 schools will close from 11^th to 15^th February 2008 = inclusive.

Primary schools=20 will close from 14^th to 15^th February 2008 = inclusive. (Primary schools may use = 3=20 discretionary days to extend this break to an alternative option of a 5 = day=20 break).

Easter=20 2008

All = schools will=20 close on 14^th March 2008 which will be the final day of the = school=20 term. All schools will = re-open on=20 31^st March 2008.

Religious=20 Observance and standardisation

The = above=20 arrangements are agreed without prejudice to closure on specific days, = within=20 the overall requirement of 167 days at post primary level and 183 days = at=20 primary level, dictated by religious observance that is required in = schools=20 under the patronage of different denominations or = faiths.

In = the absence of=20 an adequate number of discretionary days a school authority may choose = to=20 utilize a religious observance day for non-tuition purposes when = planning the=20 school year.

Extent of=20 flexibility

It = was not a=20 requirement of this agreement that the commencement or end of the school = year=20 either at primary or post primary level should be standardised. However while schools may use = their=20 discretionary days, where available, to determine the precise start and = end of=20 the school year, it is recognised the commencement of Certificate = examinations=20 will mean that post primary schools will not be open for tuition beyond = the=20 Friday preceding the June bank holiday in any year. The expectation is = that in=20 order to meet the overall requirement of a minimum of 167 at post = primary level=20 or 183 days at primary level the school year will normally commence in = the week=20 that 1^st September falls.

The arrangements may provide = some limited=20 flexibility to schools on certain other days outside of the defined=20 periods. The scheduling = of such=20 days must not be used to extend or modify the periods set out above in = respect=20 of mid-term and Christmas and Easter breaks save where religious = observance=20 requirements of a school under a particular patronage make this = necessary.

Outstanding issues = arising from=20 2003/2004 arrangements

Having regard to=20 difficulties encountered in relation to these arrangements, the = arrangements for=20 parent /teacher meetings and staff meetings as notified by schools to = the=20 Department of Education and Science or which it is anticipated will be = notified=20 to the Department the parties acknowledge that this agreement in = relation to the=20 next 4 school years removes any uncertainty and confusion that may have=20 prevailed. Furthermore = the parties=20 agree that all schools that experienced a difficulty whether notified = already to=20 the Department or still to be notified will ensure = that

over the balance of the school year the = minimum 167=20 and 183 day requirement is satisfied and
any loss of tuition will be addressed at = school=20 level. =

You are=20 requested to provide a copy of this Circular to the parents=92 and &n= bsp; &nb= sp; =20

=20 teachers=92=20 representatives on Boards of Management.

Matthew=20 Ryan,

Principal=20 Officer.

23 = March=20 2004.