Year 7 finishing at 4pm

[Generalpost]

I'm probably being a snow flake. But dd who's 11. has just started year 7. And I only just realised that enrichment classes are compulsory they finish at 4pm. My concern is we live in a rough area of London . And I worry about her coming home. She would get home around 4.45-5pm. And I worry more for the winter when it gets dark early. I'm not able to collect her as I don't drive and have younger children. One with special needs. I just think it's a bit much for a child who's just left primary. Maybe in a couple of weeks I will wounder why I was worried. But I really thought enrichment was a choice 🤔

@BigSandyBalls2015

and stabbings are usually gang related, it's very rare to hear of a random stabbing, particularly on a school girl!

That's very true

@Filthycop

This is booming more common - all work is done at school and not a lot of homework because it is being covered in school. I think it is a shock when they're Y7 but will settle in to it and they will travel with friends as they're all finsihing at the same time.

I was just thinking about this dd has to be up at 6am time school and enrichment finishes she would be home 5ish. Then dinner. Have shower etc its getting pretty late . So I really do hope it includes home work. An hour later does not seem much when said. But it does make quite a big difference to the day .

Wow certainly not standard in my area.

Nearly all the secondary schools finish at 3 with optional clubs after. A child might do 1 or 2 but every day is a lot!!!

What about those who have other clubs to get to!!

You will be surprised how quickly she suddenly grows up

Many of us worry when they start secondary school. The sudden need for them to be independent plus other concerns seems overwhelming. In a few weeks you will wonder why you worried so much (I felt the same)

Thousands of children are starting year 7 with the longer days, getting the bus or train alone, in not so nice areas and they are all fine

Really you will be pleasantly surprised

Its not really about growing up though is it but longer days. I wouldn't be impresswdif that wasnt what we signed up for. We do loads of extra curricular and would need the time.

Wow that’s late for year 7. Is it five days a week for the whole school year?

I would definitely speak to the head of year, confirm what the arrangements are and express your concerns.

My dc finish at 2.30 pm!

I am also a teacher and I can’t see that timetable being popular with staff. Presumably it’s not an arrangement for the whole school but not sure why they would extend the day for year 7s.

Ds finishes at 415 plus clubs (plus bus home)

Has done since starting secondary

It’s was a bit tiring at first but most children do manage. He has been used to going to afterschool club

I think contact the school to see what they suggest. I agree that one hour difference isn’t that big a deal, and also, you weren’t planning to never letting your child take part in extra curricular activities surely? What was the plan? It’s not the case that you and your child have decided you just don’t want to participate in extra activities, is it? If you genuinely feel worried about it then don’t let others persuade you to keep your daughter on the phone or take self-defence classes. If the danger is real enough to need these mechanisms then she shouldn’t be walking home in the dark. I think that long journey including 2 walks in the dark is quite a big deal. Perhaps you can find a parent of another child, who takes a similar route and you could share pick up days. Although you obviously can’t afford a taxi everyday, perhaps once a week to the bus stop to avoid the second walk might be a compromise. Is enrichment compulsory every day? As I said the school may have some ideas or may agree to a compromise.

I grew up in London and finished school at 5pm. I didn't see any stabbings on my walk-bus-walk route home.

I would assume the ‘enrichment’ after school is basically instead of homework. It’s because so many children don’t do the homework they get given, so now it’s added into school day.
It’s very common at private school, as a way of ‘homework’ being done whilst being supervised and helped, then very little done at home if any

I'm really surprised so many people are saying it's late!

I was at school 9am-4pm from reception! I actually had shorter days in sixth form than I did at any other point in my school life.

Due to the school bus times I got home at 6pm in year 7, having caught the bus at 8am to get to school for 8.20am.

9-4 in reception in a state school? With no after school care? Wow.

Getting in at 6pm wouldn't work for us as they do sports clubs/etc.

@PileOfBooks - the one near our old home from reception were 8.20am-3.45pm. Clubs ontop were until 5.15pm if you wanted

Wow I thought our school was 30mins longer than those around us but so relieved it finished at 3.10

@PileOfBooks

9-4 in reception in a state school? With no after school care? Wow.

It was private school - but it was normal for me from day one.

I had before and after school care on top of that, so my school day was really 8-6.

I finished at 4.15 pm when I was in year 7 !

Ah yes private is quite different!!!

Most state primaries have optional breakfast clubs/afterschool care of some description so some will do longer days. But certainly around here primaries finish around 3ish.

@PileOfBooks

Ah yes private is quite different!!!

Most state primaries have optional breakfast clubs/afterschool care of some description so some will do longer days. But certainly around here primaries finish around 3ish.

Sure, but my point is that an 11 year old is more than capable of staying in school/lessons until 4pm.

If a 4-5 year old can do it, I'm sure an 11 year old can manage

I think in winter when it's dark it's quite late to be travelling alone, is there anyone else in her year that lives close by?

Its not just a question of capable though is it? Lots do afterschool care but thats optional. Ops family isn't being given the option.

I wouldn't be okay with it at all as it wouldn't suit our family and our evening activities.

I wouldn't be okay with it at all as it wouldn't suit our family and our evening activities.

But if that's the case, you wouldn't pick a school with a 4pm finish time!

OP says herself she didn't realise she'd gotten the finishing times wrong. If finishing early so kids can attend activities is important, then surely it's something you'd check first?

Won't there be loads of commuters around at that time? It's 5 pm not 10 pm.

@PileOfBooks

Its not just a question of capable though is it? Lots do afterschool care but thats optional. Ops family isn't being given the option.

I wouldn't be okay with it at all as it wouldn't suit our family and our evening activities.

That's partly it to. I accept I'm possibly being a bit over protective. But this is every night and it seems to be I don't have a choice .

@icecoffees

"If a 4-5 year old can do it, I'm sure an 11 year old can manage"

I doubt a 4-5 year old is walking through a dodgy area alone though.