What time does your DC’s school finish?

[Brieeeeeeeee]

Both primary and secondary school finished at 3.45pm for me, in the late 90s/mid 00s.

I live in a different place to where I grew up and I see both primary and secondary children walking or being collected from about 2.50pm, which seems really early. Yesterday I was wfh but had an appointment to attend at 3.30pm, a short bus ride away - I left 30 mins beforehand but was almost late, as it took me that long to travel less than 2 miles because of the traffic and the amount of schoolchildren at each bus stop.

My own DC will be at school in the next few years and I’m vaguely sketching out how I’ll manage after-school care.

Just curious as to what the “general” school hours are, as I had assumed that 9am-3.45pm was standard.

My DC start at 8.45 and finish at 3.30. My school starts at 9 and finishes at 3.30. I've worked at schools that start at 8.50 and 8.55 and finish at 3 and 3.20 as well.

My DC's school finishes at 3. The school I work finishes at 3.15. My own primary as a child finished at 3.

Lunch times have become shorter over the years. Most schools only have between 30-40 minutes.

I may consider private school for this reason, to be honest. It would be a relief to know they can stay until 6 if needed - I doubt I’d ever have to use it but it is good to know.

DDs school 8:25 - 2:45
My school 8:40 - 3:00

My school used to finish at 3:30 but they cut lunch from an hour to 30 mins so the children finish earlier (+ shorter lunch breaks decrease the number of injuries and fights during unstructured times)

Our primary 8.40-3 (doors open at 8.30), primary I worked in 8.50-3.10.
Our secondary 8.30 (registration starts) to 3. 2.55 if they have a double lesson as the final lesson of the day.

My own secondary (90s) was 8.50 to 3.15 and Thursdays until 2.50.

Also, school I work in now 8.50-3.10.

Village primary is 8.15am to 2.45pm

Secondary - 8.30 - 3.35. The school day was increased a few years ago to 6 x 1 hour lessons per day so they could choose an extra option. In return we get 2 weeks extra holidays.

Dcs secondary starts at 9 and finishes at 3.15. Most kids would rather have a shortened morning break and lunch, and finish earlier.

I heard that schools are encouraged to stagger their start and finish times so they aren't all at the same time? That may be wrong.

DS primary gates open 8:45 to 8:55, finish at 3:15 for infants and 3:20 for juniors.

DD secondary 8:30 to 2:30 on Mondays and then 3:30 finish the rest of the week. Other secondaries in the area have different timings.

4:45-3 primary and 4:40- 3 secondary. Other local primary's have different times I believe

Mine was always 8.50 - 3.30 and I went to school similar years to you.

It shocked me when I moved in with DP and his son finished school at 2.30. I WFH (always have done) so volunteered to pick him up from school so he didn't have to walk home every day as it's quite a way, but I found that finishing at that time really interrupted my afternoon!! Whereas if it was 3.30 I'd be almost finished anyway.

Primary - 8:45-3:15 (soft start 8:35)
Breakfast Club from 7:45, After-School Club until 6pm

Secondary - 8:40-3:10 apart from Tuesdays when they finish at 2:10 😱
Sports clubs til 4:30pm Mon/Weds

Oh my gosh what are you supposed to do if you work and school finishes at 2:45???
I went to a private school which finished at 4:35, then we got the bus home so I was usually home after 5!

I went to a secondary (in the 80s) that finished at 2.15. We had one 20 minute break during the whole day in which was spent inside in the main hall. Anyone on free meals had to stay after school to eat. It was so unhealthy in so many ways.

Primary 8.50 - 3.15
Secondary 8.35 - 3.00

Pretty much every school in my local area has the same rough timings give or take 10 minutes either end.

Just east of London, but still a London Borough just about

Secondary, 8.30 - 15.10 which does feel early.
Primary was 8.50 to 3.30, only 20 minutes later but it did make a difference!

At Primary DDs had (different schools)

1. 8.30-3pm
2. 8.50-3.15

3.9.00- 3.30 4.8.55-3.30

Secondary school is 8.30- 2.45. Its too early really, even with the Clubs until 4pm.

8.35/8.45 - 3.15 (5 mins earlier for early years)
Friday 8.35/845 - 2.15
We only have an after school club available on a Friday to cover that hour shortfall.
Breakfast club available every day from 7.15

Primary here 8.45-3.15

Primary 8:50-3:30.
Secondary 8:25-2:50 (also have shorter staggered breaks).
Where I used to live there were 4 schools very close together and they had staggered start finish times to reduce congestion.

My kids: Primary 8:30 - 15:00, secondary 8:30 - 16:10.

My secondary was 8:25 - 14:25, we had short breaks and not a proper lunch break so we finished earlier.

After school childcare is available at a lot more primary schools nowadays though.

There is sometimes an expectation of increasing your working hours when DC start school, but in practice I think it's actually easier to work full days when children are at nursery and then cut your hours when they start school. Wraparound is available but I think it's easier for little ones to spend a full day in nursery than it is for 4 year olds to do breakfast club, school, after school club.

Which day, which child?
Both at primary, last years so have a full timetable, younger years have less.
Monday both 720-1145, 1330-1600
Tuesday 720-1144, 1330-1500
Wednesday DC1 720; DC2 815 - 1145
Thursday 720- 1145, 1330 - DC1 1505; DC2 1600
Friday 720- 1145

My sons school hours are 8.50am - 3.05pm. With breakfast club and after school club he is in school from 8am-5.30pm.