EDUCATION in Worcestershire could be in line for a major shake-up after Charles Clarke backed plans for a six-term school year.

The Education Secretary and political heavyweight became the first government minister to endorse the radical move yesterday, which more than a quarter of LEAs already support.

In a letter to Don Rule, an independent Herefordshire councillor, Mr Clarke said he was "personally attracted" to the idea, which he described as having "positive merits".

The scheme would break up long spring and summer terms into four teaching blocks of six weeks.

There would be a fixed spring break in April, with provision for a separate long weekend for Easter, if the holiday fell outside that break.

Further proposals include a two-week holiday in the autumn instead of the present one-week break.

June Longmuir, cabinet member for education, said Worcestershire would support the move if it were carried out across the board.

"Worcestershire will support the move if it's done across the country, but parents will find it very difficult if it's done in a piecemeal fashion," she said.

"If it is introduced, I would have thought it is more than likely it will happen within the next couple of years."

Supporters of the plans claim there is already a "de-facto" six-term school year and these changes would simply even it up.

However, Miss Longmuir warned that the changes would not just affect schools alone.

"The church may oppose a static Easter break," she said.

"We would also have to consider what universities would expect from examination timetables and school holidays must coincide with parents' holidays from work."

Worcester MP and former teacher Mike Foster said the plans appeared to work, but specific details would require fine-tuning.

"In principle it works in favour of the pupils and teaching staff," he said.

"Towards the end of a 14-week term the stresses and strains tend to weigh more heavily and this is shown by higher levels of sickness among teaching staff.

"Breaking up the terms into small chunks means everyone can give 100 per cent all the time.

"However, we have to be careful that any changes are made with the full consultation of parents, businesses, universities and the whole community."