Results

The remit of the Advisory Group was to ensure its recommendation served the best interests of students.

There is compelling evidence that students experience learning loss over the long summer break; this is particularly so for students from low SES backgrounds. There is also research that shorter, more concentrated blocks of time are more beneficial for students' learning. The absenteeism data for students and teachers in Government schools also supports a view that taking more frequent and shorter breaks especially during the winter months might be
beneficial to the health and well-being of both groups.

While many valid arguments were put in support of retaining a 3 term school year, none of these was specifically related to educational objectives.

In summary, and following a lengthy discussion on some caveats and inclusions which are canvassed below, all members of the Advisory Group, apart from the Australian Education Union, supported making a recommendation to the Minister to move to a 4 term school year in Tasmania.

p7. Report on the Merits of Introducing a 4 Term School Year in Tasmania

The Minister for Education and Skills, Lin Thorp, has announced a consultation process to explore the merits of a four term school year in Tasmania.

An advisory group chaired by Jenny Cranston has been established with representatives from the following stakeholder and interest groups:

• Association of Independent Schools Tasmania, Tony Crehan
• Tasmanian Principals Association, Rob Banfield
• Catholic Education Office, Sean Gill
• Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia, Robyn Kronenberg
• Australian Parents Council, Ian Dalton
• Tasmanian State Schools Parents and Friends, Dianne Ellson
• Tasmanian Catholic Schools Parents and Friends Association, Gerard Mitchell
• Australian Education Union, Leanne Wright
• Tasmanian Qualifications Authority, Reg Allen
• Independent Education Union Tasmania, Angela Briant
• University of Tasmania, Anne Langworthy
• DIER, Bernard Carlington
• Ministerial Child Care Council (MCCAC), Jo Walsh
• Tourism Industry Council Tasmania, Jan Horton
• Catholic Principals Association, Jim Ireland
• Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI), Colleen Reardon
• CPSU, Lyn Saunders
• Department of Education, Anne French

• Four Term School Year discussion paper (Word 25KB)
• Addendum to discussion paper (Word 12KB)
• Term Dates 2011 (Excel 39KB)

• UTAS Report - Effects of Summer Varation on Achievement Test Scores (Word 17KB)
• Summer Learning Loss: The Problem and Some Solutions. ERIC Digest. 
• Summer learning loss - Wikipedia
• Impact of Calendar on Student Achievement, Gender, and Ethnicity
  in Year-Round Schools
• Case Report on Semesterization
• Tourism information
• Advisory Group Research Report draft 23/2/11
• Absence Data (Word 91KB)
• 1987 Department of Education Report (PDF 1.4MB)
• 1984 Victoria Education Department Report (PDF 4.5MB)
• 1983 Adelaide Education Department Report (PDF 4.3MB)

• Issue 1: 10 November 2010 (Word 306KB)
• Issue 2: 16 November 2010

Comments can be sent directly to communications@education.tas.gov.au

or to the Chair of Advisory Group cranston.jenny@gmail.com