To ask if parents support a longer school day?

[namechangingf123]

As Michael Gove is proposing? Would it help you as a working parent?

How long would suit you/your child? And if you didn't agree with longer day (as I don't) would you/could you just pick DC up at 3.15ish as usual?

[SoullessButSunny]

I think its a terrible idea.

Mine definitely would not cope with a longer school day.

[CatAmongThePigeons]

Unfortunately state schools are nothing like boarding schools so you couldn't do anything unless lots of land was CPO and new schools built with fantastic grounds and facilities. Unfortunately for a lot of schools, they're in urban areas with minimal to no green spaces. We certainly couldn't get the breadth of after school clubs in our school, it wouldn't be possible.

[Harryhairypig]

I think a slightly longer day for high school which incorporated homework time, or gave more teaching time so less homework to do at home would be good. Since having a child at high school our home life is dominated by homework which I hate. Younger than that, I think they are in school long enough already, but decent wraparound care would be more helpful.

[chrome100]

I'd be in favour of extending the school day but having perhaps the last 2 hours be sport/drama/extra curricular activities. These are the things that get squeezed and which add value to a child's education. The normal school day could be spent on academic activity, with the extra hours being wind down/exercise. Working parents can then pick their child up after work making life better for them.

Our local high school finishes at 3pm. I think that's far too early for senior pupils.

[rac321]

My dc are really tired by 3.30 and wouldn't learn much more if they stayed longer. I would support a choice of after school activities where they could pick what they wanted to do with the option of coming home instead. But more formal schooling - no!
I agree that we need to look at what is best for the children rather than what is convenient for the parents.

[LoonvanBoon]

No, definitely don't support this. My children's primary school day is long enough - 8.40 to 3.30 - & they have some homework (not too much), a couple of musical instruments to practise & a couple of after-school sporting activities. I feel they're out of the house & / or have more than enough demands on their time already. They're children & have a right to relax / play at the end of a busy day. Totally agree that the question here should be what's in the interests of the children, not what is most convenient for parents. It's really important not to confuse issues about childcare / provision for working parents (which may well need improving in lots of places) & the kind of school day that's needed from an educational point of view - schools are there to educate, not to provide childcare.

[filee777]

I agree with chrome.

The time could be put to really good use, could create jobs and would help some of the issues connected to inflation.

[trixymalixy]

As a working parent, no, I think the school day is long enough as it is. Kids are exhausted after a day at school as it is.

What would help working parents more is more flexible working and better after school care provision.

[TantrumsAndBalloons]

I wish people would stop saying things that imply this is for the good of working parents and that all working parents want this.
I don't mean on this thread, it's everywhere- "why should my DCs have to have a longer day to accommodate working parents"

I've worked full time since dd was 6 months old, she's now 15 and I have a 14 y/o and a 10 y/o
I don't support this at all. I would not want the school day to be any longer than it is.

[elliejjtiny]

No I wouldn't support it. My 5 year old struggles with the hours as it is to be honest and I don't think my 7 year old would manage longer hours of school either. I think it's a good idea to provide wraparound care for those who need it but some people don't need the extra hours.

[Xoanon]

Fieta My DD1 leaves home at 7:30 every morning to get to her GS. She gets home just after 5. The school day ends at 3:35pm. If it was extended by an hour she wouldn't get home an hour later, because of the traffic it would be more like an hour and a half. Maybe even 2. Her first study instrument isn't even taught at her school, she has outside lessons. If the school day was extended, she would have a longer day than many working adults and she would have to wave goodbye to what she wants to study at music college (she'd have to wave goodbye to music college). And for what? She doesn't need extra lesson time to achieve the academic standards Gove wants to see - she massively exceeds them already.

[filee777]

Has there been talk of it being compulsory?

I thought it was supposed to be a necessity for schools to provide, not for parents to use unless they needed to.

[cory]

filee777 Fri 18-Oct-13 09:30:31
"It is absolutely about childcare, in independent boarding schools the children are supported to study, play sports, socialise in a safe environment. It's good for them and makes much more sense than going from home to childminder to school to childminder to club to home (for example)

Yes in an ideal world we would all work 9.30 til 3 and have enough money to support everyone but it doesn't work like that.

People need to stop viewing it with the idea that it will be a longer school day and instead look at how well it works with boarding children."

Just remind me- how many boarding schools have their entire outdoor space consist of one small concrete patch and their entire inner sports area consist of the same hall in which pupils also have to have their assemblies and dinners?

This is what urban state primaries tend to look like. They were built in Victorian times for the urban poor, they are cramped and surrounded by housing which makes it impossible to expand even if money were available.

How on earth are they supposed to provide sports and play facilities that in any way match those of boarding schools?

My dc's infants school didn't even have enough space for all children to be seated at a desk at the same time; teachers had to plan accordingly. They were sixty children to one open plan classroom. Do you really not think a childminder would provide a quieter environment for homework?

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

No, the school day is quite long enough for my daughter and I like to see her at some point during the day. There's more to childhood than school and as for why my 5yo should be 'preparing for the workplace'... .

I'm a SAHM currently so childcare isn't an issue but I can see (and remember) that better childcare options for school age children is desperately needed, but more school isn't it.

[shewhowines]

No, kids go to bed earlier than adults. They need the same downtime (or more) than us. It wouldn't be possible if they are at school longer. They already have to do homework. It's not fair. they won't work to their full potential anyway as they are too tired. We all know how tired they are by the time half term arrives.

This has probably all been said before and I should have RTFT

[filee777]

I suppose I am quite spoilt by the schools round here, all are in reasonably sized grounds and have adequate equipment.

[shewhowines]

As far as I can see, having RTFT, only those who already do it in private schools agree. Everybody else sees the stupidity of the idea.

I also agree - better wrap around care and/or smaller class sizes.

[lljkk]

DS has behaviour problems. Poor staff would probably throw hands up in horror at having to occupy him for an extra 2-3 hours a day. He'd be kicked out of most private schools.

[filee777]

My children don't go to private school. What an odd assumption!

[ShoeWhore]

There are two underlying issues that need addressing surely:

1 working parents need good quality affordable childcare
2 some disadvantaged children miss out on the range of extra curricular activities available to their peers

Both are really important and need tackling - but to suggest that the solution is to make the school day longer for all children is ridiculous!

Our local secondary offers optional homework sessions after school several evenings a week - why does it need to be compulsory?

As for my 6yo needing to get used to adult working hours... Words fail me!!

[daftyburd]

As a lone parent who works full time I do not support these proposals at all. It would make life easier for me but not for my child. She is tired when she leaves school and needs time to relax.
Also my child's extra-curricular activities would never be provided for in school. I can't imagine them bringing in a piano or ponies! Then I feel Gove is more interested in creating a homogenized workforce than individuals with differing talents and skills. Certainly an appreciation of the arts is surplus to requirements!

[Boaty]

DS1 went to a prep school that ran from 8.30-6pm. The boys had longer breaks. Mid morning they had a half hour break with milk, bread and jam/spreads. Lunch was an hour, followed by a rest period, younger boys had a lay down, both day and boarders, older boys used the time for extra music practise. They could go and just play as well. There was a minimum of one and half hour sport each day. A break again between lessons and sport. There was prep for older boys and younger ones did extra activities like cooking/art/martial arts/drama so when day boys left at 6 they had no other 'work' to do. Boarders had dinner and play time until bedtime. Academic standards were high there but they had the advantage of small classes and less 'wasted' time.
In the state sector I think there should be a core day, if the day was extended the extra time should be for activities/homework not just more academic subjects.
It could be also be adjusted for different ages. Small children don't need to be prepared for the working day but by the time kids are 17/18 it should be a full day to match a working day but no homework. Finishing at 3.30 at 17 then doing hours of homework is hardly family time!