how long is the school day for 8 year olds at independent schools?

[cokibeach]

trying to find out how long the school day is at independent schools in London. Anyone have any idea? Moving from the U.S. and british husband seems to remember a very long academic day at his independent school -- much longer than in the U.S. thanks very much for your help.

[shushpenfold]

My son is at a Surrey one and his day runs from 8.05 til 4.50pm!! I think this is the longest of the independent ones near to us though.

[watfordmummy]

Age 8 ds did 8.30am to 4pm / 4.15pm hope this helps

[stealthsquiggle]

How long is a piece of string?

If it's completely a day school I would guess 8:30 - 4:30 would be fairly 'normal'. DS will do 8:00 - 6:00 next year, but that is because it is a >50% boarding school so they build lots of sport into the day, as it were - could that be the sort of setup your DH is remembering?

[cokibeach]

thanks so much everyone. that's what i thought -- about two hours longer on average than in NYC. DH was at boarding school many moons aog but even so, i thought the schools might still have a long day since many of them have the same curriculum with French and Latin in addition to the standard subjects. i looked at several websites but couldn't find any info...

[kitkatsforbreakfast]

My ds does 8.30 (entry to school with 8.40 lesson start) to 3.35 in his independent school (Year 3) but he can go to homework room until 4.10 if he wants to, to get the homework out of the way before coming home. It's getting more popular.

[inmypants]

ours goes to 6.15 in y4 and they do their 'prep' at school. Extended day mostly sporting extra curricular stuff - but is compulsory (also sat morning school)

[kitkatsforbreakfast]

Does it make a difference if it is a boarding school with day pupils too? Ours is just a day school, but some of the other local schools that have boarding too have much longer days and Saturday morning school too.

[inmypants]

FWIW I have exp of US and UK private schools ( US one an International school but knew of friends in the local school) and would say that the day IS more intensive and longer generally - although our more frequent holidays here do compensate somewhat for the very long semesters in the US.....

HTH

[Mum72]

8.10 until 6pm Mon, Tue, Thur an Fri.
8.10- - 4pm Weds an Saturday

Its a boarding school prep school with some day pupils - alot of day pupils stay on for the evening activities too.

Sport EVERY afternoon. No prep but in effect the lessons after sport between 5pmish and 6pm would be the equivalent of a prep session.

Matches on Weds and Sats so if they are away matches the children may not be back at school for 4pm if you include match teas and travel.

Subject taught from year 4 (age 8)Latin is part of the curriculum. A second language in addition to French is added in year 6 (Spanish) and Greek is available to those children in the top stream from year 7.

It is a long day but activities are included into it. For example one afternoon a week my DD has riding lessons instead of sport.

Both my children joined at 8. Yes they get tired but not overly so and imo no more tired than they used to get at the local school with their additional, swimming,dance, gymnastics,piano and Scouts/Brownies etc

[Yingers74]

At my daughters' school, the 8 year olds start their day at about 8.50am and finish 3.45pm which is about the same as state school. Of course if you choose to after school club then effectively you could be at school till 6pm!

[stealthsquiggle]

Oh yes - Saturday school. DS will have school 8-12 on Saturdays next year.

[dilemma456]

Message withdrawn

[GrimmaTheNome]

DDs is 8:30-3:30, quite a few clubs/sporting fixtures after and about 1hr homework per night (which may be done in homework room).

[Summersoon]

Hi there. Our indepedent prep opened at 8.30 for a 9.00 start and school finished at 3.45.
Most independents also set almost daily homework which should not take more than 20 or 30 minutes for a 6 year-old and 45 minutes or so for a 10 year-old.

[cokibeach]

thanks everyone, i see that there really are a range of closing times depending on sports, clubs etc. it will be an adventure for us! thanks so much for all of the replies!