Public school children will have and extra week off for summer vacation this year.

The Department of Education announced yesterday an adjustment to the Public School System's 2009/2010 academic calendar.

Students will be reporting to their respective schools on Monday, September 14, instead of September 8, as previously published.

Both the Bermuda Union of Teachers and the Association of School Principals are in agreement with the change and every effort will be made to make up the days during the school year.

The change in date will facilitate professional development plans for teachers in preparation for the start of the school year.

Teachers will be involved in training from September 1 through September 3, with the Department's staff development partners the Leadership and Learning Center.

This partnership was formed in response to two recommendations from the Review of Public Education in Bermuda, commonly known as the Hopkins Report to dramatically improve the quality of teaching and to move quickly to improve the quality of leadership by Principals

Although school is opening later than usual, no other holidays during the 2009/2010 year should be altered.

The Department of Education recognised this adjustment may cause some inconvenience but would like to inform the public that the change has been made for this academic year only and all other professional development will be conducted throughout the normally allotted professional development days.