A traditional school year looks set to continue in the Isle of Man.

Education Minister Graham Cregeen said previous reviews had always ended with a decision to stick with the three-term format that has been in place for decades.

In the past proposals for four-term and five-term school years have been examined along with ways of reducing disruption caused by motorsport events, but nothing has ever come of the suggestions. As with England and Wales, the school year normally runs from early September until late July the following year.

In the House of Keys, Mr Cregeen was asked by Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew) when the department last reviewed patterns for school terms and also for school days.

The minister said: ’Terms and holidays including half-term holidays for schools are determined by the Department (of Education, Sport and Culture).

’These are to some extent reviewed each year in the pattern for three years ahead, in agreement with primary and secondary head teachers, union officials and then agreed definitively by political members.’

He added: ’A formal review of the school year was undertaken in 2004 in which several proposals were presented to the community for consultation.

’After much consultation the established pattern was reverted to. Again, in 2008, a different proposal was consulted on but again this received mixed responses and so the traditional path was retained.’

He said the hours of the school day were a matter for each individual school’s governing body, in consultation with the head teacher.