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

1.	over the balance of the school year the minimum 167 and 183 day requirement is satisfied and 
2.	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.