I WRITE in response to the article regarding nine-week school holidays and the effect this is to have on children taking their exams.

The councillors, NUT and teaching staff are all stating that they will do all they can to ensure pupils do not suffer, and defend the changes.

How can they do this when, coupled with the Building Schools for the Future Programme, my son will not only be three weeks short in the amount of schooling he will receive, but also one hour a week of schooling since last September?

As the schools send the children home early to concentrate on meetings for the new schools, how will all these hours of teaching (over 100 hours) ever be caught up?

I am 100 per cent certain he will not achieve the standard he would have if he had received the full entitlement of teaching hours that other children have been given.

JULIE NAUGHTON, Cross Street, Briercliffe, Burnley.