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Original poster

Length of day at private schools

42 replies

Tethersend01 · 07/04/2023 21:50

My Child in year 7 is not coping with the Comprehensive and we are coming to the conclusion that switching to the local private school might be a much easier place for him to be.
Neither myself or DH attended private schools and I was surprised to learn that the school day is so long! 8.10 to 5.30 at the nearest school. I’m just not sure hiw DC will adapt and cope with such a long day. They are exhausted with the standard 9 to 3.20 at the local school. Has anyone hot any experience of this transition goid/ bad/ indifferent? Tia

OP posts:
Notellinganyone · 08/04/2023 09:11

Depends on the school. Ours finishes at 3.50 and students can go home then if they want although there are plenty of activities and they can stay in the library to work,

RettyPriddle · 08/04/2023 08:54

We did the transistion from state primary to local prep. The school day is 8am to 6ish, depending on sport/activities. Plus Saturday school, They are so busy, during the school day. Totally worth it. Small class sizes; specialist subject teachers; amazing facilities and zero tolerance towards bullying, poor behaviour etc. They do expect children to be resilient and get on with it all, though. And children are assessed constantly, so be prepared for reports and grades every half term.

FacebookFun · 08/04/2023 08:48

This reply has been withdrawn

The OP has privacy concerns and so we've agreed to take this down.

Xiaoxiong · 08/04/2023 08:41

Ours is 8.25 to 6.15 and starting from Year 5 the final hour is a mandatory hour of prep. On the flip side there is nothing needing doing at home once they get home!

ZirihePevzig · 08/04/2023 08:23

Presumably the last hour or so is supervised prep rather than taught lessons?

My DC has autism and we chose private because we hoped for a quieter and more studious environment than a typical comprehensive. It's not quite as good a solution as we hoped but not too bad. The official school day ends at 4 but DC prefers to then go to the library till 5:30 to get prep done there, rather than coming home and doing prep here.

I don't think it's an issue - and the long holidays mean a more relaxing break.

MintJulia · 08/04/2023 08:18

My DS' small rural independent school runs from 8.45 - 4pm, plus prep until 5pm.

The main differences are smaller class sizes, no disruptive pupils, better facilities, a wide choice of extra-curriculas, absolutely no tolerance of bullying or drug taking/vaping/smoking, and better pastoral care.

Expectations of effort are high, both academically and ECAs though. It isn't selective and has pupils of all abilities but they do expect pupils to give lots of things a try, and to get involved.

It depends why your dd was struggling. Generally I think the teachers have more time to sort out any issues and encourage individual pupils. If you can afford it, certainly worth a try

gogohmm · 08/04/2023 07:58

Private school isn't easier, but homework is done at school, theres usually more sports and parents choose it to solve childcare issues. Is it also a boarding school, they tend to try to integrate the day students into pastoral activities. One of my DD's went to a private school on scholarship and they had lessons to 4 then prep, Wednesday afternoons lessons stopped at midday and lots of sports fixtures and she had Saturday morning classes, then sport in the pm (sport is her thing though)

Legoninjago1 · 08/04/2023 07:38

Hi OP. My boys are at a prep school and their day is 8 - 5:15. No issue and they're used to it. A chunk of each afternoon is taken up with either games or activities. They also have Saturday school but as a PP said, they have very long hols. We're currently in week 3 of a 4 week Easter holiday!

TeenDivided · 08/04/2023 07:36

I think it depends why they are 'not coping'.

My DD just coped (until she didn't) but was exhausted after a school day. It eventually turned out she has v poor processing , working memory, dyslexia and dyspraxia (amazing she coped for so long really). Moving to a private school wouldn't really have helped.

WallPlant · 07/04/2023 22:04

Ours isn't particularly longer than the local state schools.

Registration at 8:30.

Last lesson ends 4:10.

But with 2 good length breaks and a great lunch.

Maybe a bit of a longer day but less hectic for a sure.

Nailsandthesea · 07/04/2023 22:04

Oops at ours! Don’t teach English - you’ll be relieved to know!

Nailsandthesea · 07/04/2023 22:03

Days are longer but lunch breaks are also longer and they are expected to do clubs before and after school and Saturday games at hours. They get two weeks most half terms and 3 weeks at Easter and an extra 4 weeks in the summer.

we work hard and play for longer!

Original poster
Tethersend01 · 07/04/2023 22:03

Thank you both for your replies.
to answer the question- I’m not sure it definitely will be easier but it definitely cannot be worse and its either try it or accept we will have to homeschool which I definitely fo not want to do.
The local private school isn’t one of the hugely academically pressured schools and doesn’t hothouse the kids. Smaller classes and the ability for us to buy in some one to one support which the comp just cannot provide- not their fault.
much smaller school in large peaceful grounds. Just less distraction and chaos really.

OP posts:
larriss · 07/04/2023 22:02

Normally lessons finish around 3:30-3:45 in private schools - after that time students can attend clubs or study club which is optional

FlightOwl · 07/04/2023 22:01

it depends on what they’re doing during that time. IME most private schools finish teaching at 4, then anything after that is either a club or prep (meaning homework is done before he comes home).

agree as above though, what do you think private school can offer that is different to comp?

DrMarciaFieldstone · 07/04/2023 21:57

The days are longer; so are the holidays.

I’m not sure they are generally an easier place to be, what are you hoping will be different?

FredandAmy · 07/04/2023 21:55

You know your DC best, but in my experience they just adapt to the longer day. Also they have longer holidays so longer to rest in between intensive terms.