Enforced lunchtimes clubs at secondary school

[Equimum]

I am really interested in other people's thoughts on this please.

Our year 9 son has recently started at an international school which we knew from the outset has compulsory extra curricular activities at the end of the school day. As such, he is school 7.30am to 5pm. Morning break is 20 minutes; ten of which children have to attend compulsory snack/ second breakfast.

Today, we have received an email stating that all pupils need to sign up to extra-curriculars at lunchtimes, choosing two sport, two indoor and an additional activity from either strand. These will fill the lunch break around their dining hall time.

For me, this feels like too much structure. Children already have a considerable amount of homework, and are expected to show the revision notes they make after every lesson.

Would you be happy with free break bring taken away? I'm wondering if I am over-reacting?

I would not like that, when do they get time to just do what they want to do and just hang out chatting with their friends? With that long a day do they get an afternoon break before extra curriculars start after school?

Poor kids. Poor teachers. Can’t they have 30/60 mins at lunch time to eat and chill

I think that is too much. I thought you were going to say two or three times a week, not every day.

At least they won’t have time to be vaping in the bathrooms! International schools are known to be tough. That’s why loads of parents choose them. Otherwise I am sure there are other options, which if you complain they are likely to tell you about….

What are the indoor activities? If they are relaxed things like board games maybe he'll get to spend time with friends / do nothing much during those sessions.

Thanks ladies. Helpful to know that it wouldn't sit well for others either.

Natsku, they get afternoon snack break, which is a 15 minute compulsory snack and toilet break.

cityanalyst678, unfortunately l, there stemmt really options here, and the school knows it has the monopoly. As parents, most of us haven't chosen the school as such; it's the international school for the city. It does feel like the school believe all the kids will be creating chaos if they're not watched continually.

GoodVibesHere

There is chess training, musical theatre class, maths & Biology olympiad, additional languages, martial arts, basketball etc, so pretty structured in general.

Probably trying to keep them off their phones.

yikes this sounds very intense. My dd has given up all her clubs during school lunch break now; many of her friends do a sport or music or drama at lunch but my dd just likes to have time to relax and chat with friends or walk on the school fields and get fresh air.

I notice every single thing on your list is “indoorsy” - are there no opportunities to be outside?

On the other hand - wow, if you get all this for free! I would have loved this at school as I was bullied and I was desperate not to be Billy no mates at lunchtime 😆

Are the extra languages taught/ examined? if not then and there is no expectation to do especially well, that may be a way to pass time.

I would pick things friends are doing and where there is genuine chatting or a chance to run around.

What are the after school activities like?

My 11 year old son has to stay in at break and lunchtime (secondary) as he needs constant supervision due to his SEN. He can chill though, play on the wii, play board games/cards or use the sensory room though. It does seem a bit much to have that much structure though unless they want it. My 19 year old preferred structure and did a club each lunchtime but that was his choice.

It’s pretty normal for private schools.

It should be optional. I say that as a parent who sent my dc to a very intense, long hours school. Dd thrives on structure and filled her lunchtimes with activities but ds needed the downtime of just mooching about with his friends and running around.

It does sound an awful lot, but when you sign up to private school they get a lot of say over what your child does all day.

Hopefully he can seek out the less onerous clubs. There was quite an art to this at my boarding school (compulsory evening clubs - everyone had to sign up to at least 3 - they weren't daily though.)

Interesting. I think it’s reasonable to make sure they get involved in extra-curriculars but giving them no free time at all to socialise seems excessive and won’t help them develop independence.

How do enforced revision notes work out of interest?

it is a bit intense.
Does he come from
a state school? in my experience, preps usually slowly build the kids up, so by year 9 they are well used to it.
Mine now does his first lunchtime club in year 4, from year 5 its compulsory prep, year 6 another lunchtime club, and do on

My oldest does chess/library/debate at lunchtime. The problem is yours started at year 9, so missed all the slow build up.

Thanks everyone.

He actually came from an indie in the UK, although not a high pressure one. Back there, he was expected to do a couple of lunchtime clubs and a couple after school, but totally of his choosing - I'd say they were strongly encouraged rather than actually made to. I know it's more of a thing in some British private schools, but I hadn't appreciated it existed to this level, so good to know.

I suspect this is partly related to the culture here, which is quite high pressured and intense, and partly because the school wants to be seen as hitting alongside the big British indies (it's part of 'the family' of one of the British boarding schools).

I absolutely think those who have suggested this is to detract from screens etc are right. There have been issues in school, but this feels a bit of a 'punish' everyone response. There is a lack of trust in the kids, so this links up - which might actually be one of my discomforts with it.

This seems insanely full on.

Wow - my kids have been to a few international schools and had nothing like that!

My eldest just wouldn't cope. He needs some sitting around thinking time - he does 3 clubs in a week (and sport every day at school) but couldn't cope with more, let alone losing his lunchbreak to one - sometimes he just wants to sit and read!

I agree with this. Less time for shenanigans

It seems rather infantilising. Like they can't be trusted to use their time wisely. Especially for the older ones... is there no time to do homework, or to work together? Or just recovering.

My own DD is at a nice "normal" comp and got rather upset over the intensity of her rehearsal schedule in the upcoming weeks as some rehearsals don't finish to 5pm, others covering study periods, so her homework time is severely diminished. And that just for a few weeks.

This is normal in private schools not just international schools. It’s not a lesson, it’s free time but doing something constructive.

That’s awful it’s basically a full time job

No, that's just too much. Is that even allowed? With a job you have to legally have a break every so many hours, surely kids needs more breaks.
Do the teachers not get any breaks to rest and relax?

This is year 9, so they are 13/14! Old enough to work hard.
Don’t forget that private schools have longer holidays. School days are full on in exchange.
Our local state schools gave 35 min lunchbreak as well, so i don’t see the difference really (and almost no PE, so most kids don’t move all day)

I would expect them to work hard, but not sure giving them to lunch breaks at all in reasonable.

@BeachLife2 the op says they have a lunch break, just not a super long one. most independent schools have 30min lunch (catered, so there is minimal queueing) , and then 30 minutes of an activity of the children’s choice.
So in fact they have a longer break than state schools around here (35 minutes with massive queues for lunch - so kids have about 10 minutes to eat, standing in line isn’t really a break)