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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you complain about a 17 minute lunch break at high school?

95 replies

Sallystyle · 07/03/2015 18:27

My two boys aged 11 and 13 attend the same high school. A new head teacher has recently taken over.

They used to get a 20 minute break then a 50 minute lunch break. New head teacher has just announced that she is changing the break to 15 minutes and lunch to 17 minutes. 15 Minutes to get lunch and eat it and go outside for a bit then two minutes to walk back into the next lesson.

The children are obviously outraged and it seems like a few of the parents are too. Would you complain about this or do you think a 17 minute break is long enough? Having spent some time working out the new timetable it looks like she has shortened the lunch break and lengthened the school day to 20 minutes so the children can fit another lesson in.

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 07/03/2015 19:25

Teachers are contracted to work 1265 hours per year. How is she fitting in an extra lesson every day without either having to hire loads more teachers or pay them overtime? Confused

This sounds the most bonkers idea I've heard coming from a school in a long time.

SugarplumKate · 07/03/2015 19:28

My senior school operated a continental day so lessons 8.30 to 2.20pm, and we had 2 x 20 min breaks, that's it. Perfectly workable and it was great when I was 15 as I worked in a shop after school. In fact the school still does the same hours, over 25 years later! If they are finishing at 3.20 or so though, sounds like they are doing more hours than needed.

Original poster
Sallystyle · 07/03/2015 19:29

I can't see it being a mistake as multiple children with different timetables have all confirmed it, but I want to be doubly sure and give her a chance to change her mind before thinking about taking it to the press.

I keep hoping this is just some stupid mistake, but it just doesn't look like it is, but hopefully I will get more information on Monday.

Pming you ragged.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sallystyle · 07/03/2015 19:41

So does it say 12-12.17 lunch then 12.17-13.17 lesson 3 (or whatever?). I don't see how it fits in? Surely it makes the time table stupidly timed?

Lunch ends at 1.10pm.. next lesson starts at 1.20pm, five minutes for registration after lunch and 5 to walk and get settled into next class room.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sallystyle · 07/03/2015 19:43

Anyway, I will let you know what she says on Monday.

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youarekiddingme · 07/03/2015 19:45

sugar the HT at DS seconday is French - so I guess she has adopted the continental timetable there hence hours! Works though!

youarekiddingme · 07/03/2015 19:48

What time does lunch start? 12.50? Sounds like she's trying to make it look like a 30 minute break when it isn't?

I'd have serious questions.

Momagain1 · 07/03/2015 19:54

Is this even legal? Whats the least lunch break an employer could offer for those hours? Is there a lipunch counter at school, and can it manage to serve enough stufents fast enough for this to work? Or are the children supposed to go off campus to the various shops and restaurants as I see around here? If there is a lunch counter at the school at the end of our road, it is depending on most of the students buying crap off campus and could never cope with no one having time for that.

Mistigri · 07/03/2015 20:04

youarekiddingme that's not a French timetable ;) my french-educated teenager has 90 mins for lunch and they are in school from 7.50am to 4.35pm. Dd was shocked this year at having biology timetabled at lunchtime (still leaves her 45 mins to eat).

17 mins sounds utterly daft, and a good way to ensure that afternoon lessons aren't very productive.

youarekiddingme · 07/03/2015 20:07

No it's very similar to German timetable! I was just relating it to continental bit! The spanish have an even longer lunch break - siesta!

CremeEggThief · 07/03/2015 20:10

Ridiculous. 45 minutes should be the absolute minimum.Angry

woodhill · 07/03/2015 20:11

we used to get 1hr 25 mins for lunch, lots of clubs. yanbu. They need a break.

PilchardPrincess · 07/03/2015 20:12

No that's ridiculous and I would be asking what on earth they're doing and I'm sure lots of other parents + students + teachers will be as well (although presumably the teachers had advance notice you would hope).

Agree with others that is less than people working have to have by law, I thought it was 30 min break min in a bog-standard 9-5 day. But anyone, it's a point to raise, if you find out what the law is for adults working.

Stealthpolarbear · 07/03/2015 20:14

So lunch must start at 12.53?

Original poster
Sallystyle · 07/03/2015 20:17

1.20pm- 1.37pm Lunch

1.37pm- 1.40pm walk to class

1.40pm start of lesson

That is from a fb post for the Key Stage 4 timetable.

There has to be an explanation or that this is one big mistake. Will know for sure on Monday. I can't believe that it can't be a mistake. It makes no sense.

OP posts:
Stealthpolarbear · 07/03/2015 20:21

Very precise!

ShadowSpiral · 07/03/2015 20:31

Unless all the students are expected to bring in pack lunches, I just don't see how it's possible for them to get food from the canteen and eat it in that time. Plus fitting in a toilet stop. Surely some students will end up missing lunch because they're at the end of the queue for meals? Even if they're staggering lunch times over an hour or two it'll be tight timing.

And I also thought working time directives would make it illegal for adults to be given a lunchbreak that short in the day.

unlucky83 · 07/03/2015 20:51

HT here was talking about odd length lessons - 47 min or similar ..to fit in with budget cuts. I can't remember the exact figures but teachers here (Scotland) have contracted non-class contact time and 3 min less per lesson adds up to 18 min per day so 90 min per week the right amount for a teacher a week...or something...
Teachers weren't happy - NCC time is supposed to be for lesson planning etc...not 3 mins here and there ...and I don't think it is going to happen but might explain the weird times

youarekiddingme · 07/03/2015 20:51

So if your DS' lunch ends at 1.10 and KS4 starts at 1.20 it sounds like they are trying to stagger everyone lunch.mthat has got to be a monumental nightmare? Especially with teachers taching KS3 and 4.

It am also laughing at the very precise timing!

What time and how long are they being given for a morning break? 8.30-1.20 seems a long time to go without time to fit in a proper snack and drink during the morning? I'm sure some pupils will have not eaten since 7-7.30 due to how long it takes to get to secondary school?

woodlands01 · 07/03/2015 20:56

I thought there had to be consultation over changing the length of the school day.

kickassangel · 07/03/2015 21:09

there has to be consultation to change start or end of day times, changes during the day don't need it. So - a sneaky way around it imo

WhyDoesEveryoneHateMe · 07/03/2015 21:16

That is madness. I agree bring up the working time directives and breaks.

Original poster
Sallystyle · 07/03/2015 21:18

Ok, just talking to a friend and the letter she received this morning said that the school is facing financial hardships and have been forced to reduce staff and change the timetable to reflect the new curriculum being set by the government's national changes to assessments of schools.

Some changes are apparently being proposed and now out to consultation with the staff.

The letter then goes on to say they intend to change the school day and to see over leaf for the new time table. It doesn't say this part is up for consultation though?

Morning break for both key stages is 10.48-11.05

OP posts:
Tobyjugg · 07/03/2015 21:20

Never heard the like. I should be fascinated to know the justification behind this ludicrous idea.

Original poster
Sallystyle · 07/03/2015 21:24

The timings are odd.

Lessons ending at 10.31, 2.33, 11.58

It's all so precise and odd.

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