PLANS to introduce a controversial five-term year in Medway schools have been postponed. Councillors have delayed their decision until July to allow further consultation to take place.

Teachers are opposed to the proposals which they say would make staff shortages worse and make pupils work in poorly ventilated classrooms.

They also claim that by shifting more breaks from summer to winter - a five-term year would have a four-week summer break, rather than the current six-week holiday - would push up family heating bills.

Doug Macari, spokesman for the Medway NUT, said: "Teachers will be pleased that the council decided not to adopt the idiosyncratic decision of its cabinet to impose a five-term year on Medway's schools.

"They will be disappointed, however, to learn that the council missed this opportunity to end a period of uncertainty has only served to increase pressure in schools.

"Medway is part of a national system of educational provision. It is therefore surely only prudent to ensure that if such fundamental changes are to be made at all, they are made nationally."