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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder if the school day for secondary school pupils ran like a 9-5 office day

78 replies

LunchpackOfNotreDame · 18/08/2015 21:23

Especially for the upper years, would this have a positive effect on children? I'm not asking about the whys and wherefores on the impact on teachers but whether running a longer school day would help?

I don't know what side I fall on this but I have noticed when speaking to colleagues that went to private school and who find the long hours 'easy' or 'manageable' say it's because they did it from a young age.

OP posts:
pointythings · 18/08/2015 21:31

I wouldn't have a problem with this if those hours included time for all homework (ie there would be no actual homework) and all extracurricular activities - it might be a very good thing for disadvantaged children who have no safe supportive space at home to do that part of their school work.

However, I do have issues with school as a thing for 'preparing for the world of work' - because of two main reasons:

  1. The world of work is hugely diverse - you can't really prepare for it by putting people behind a desk from 9 to 5 because that really only covers a very narrow range of future jobs. As for uniform as a preparation for work - don't even go there.

  2. Many young people go to university these days, where they are expected to manage their own time flexibly in terms of when they study, where they study, what they wear for studying - you name it. So 6th forms need to emulate that by giving the students a mixture of guidance and responsibility. Parking everyone in a 9-5 straitjacket would be doing them a disservice.

BoomBoomsCousin · 18/08/2015 21:33

I think the school day should be long enough to get school work done in. No homework, but more hours in school would be far better at all ages as far as I'm concerned.

LindyHemming · 18/08/2015 21:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Katymac · 18/08/2015 21:36

If they had done that my daughter's future career would have been totally unobtainable

After school dance classes enabled her to start dance college - longer school would have meant less class & therefore less chance of getting in at audition

Original poster
LunchpackOfNotreDame · 18/08/2015 21:37

But what if academic stuff was 830-330 then to 5pm was homework/extra curricular clubs? You do one or the other but instead of being optional it was compulsory?

OP posts:
LindyHemming · 18/08/2015 21:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Katymac · 18/08/2015 21:42

You mean like the compulsory 16-18 education that is virtually non-existent?

They tried to make all primary schools have an after school club but it's very hard to staff it

pointythings · 18/08/2015 21:42

Lunchpack I'm not sure making extracurricular stuff compulsory is such a good idea. And as Euphemia said, the cost would be prohibitive. I think offering facilities for children who need them would be great - my DD has a friend who is growing up in a difficult household, we are her safe house - but beyond that it begins to eat into family life. Also - not everyone works 'office hours'. I work 7.30 - 15.30, for example. I love it, because as things stand it means I have more time with my DDs now that they need it most as teenagers. I'd hate for that to change. As I said above - if those hours cover all homework and revision time, and if the spaces provided for said homework and revision were suitable/comfortable it would be OK, but it isn't going to happen.

OddBoots · 18/08/2015 21:45

Don't private school pupils also have longer holidays though? I know when I started work it wasn't the length of day that I wasn't used to it was the drop in holidays.

jeronimoh · 18/08/2015 21:47

There's some research to show that starting the school day later than
9 a.m. is beneficial for teens.

Rarity08 · 18/08/2015 21:48

I think it's a good idea. It appeals to me that pupils can do their homework at school, with access to staff who can help and also the resources. It would also be beneficial for pupils who may not have Internet access/printers at home due to financial reasons, or the space for study, thus more of an even playing field for pupils from low income backgrounds, or parents who are at work.

NeedAScarfForMyGiraffe · 18/08/2015 21:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jeronimoh · 18/08/2015 21:51

You also need to bear in mind that some pupils will be a carer for a parent.

FabulousFudge · 18/08/2015 21:54

The school day is long enough for children. Teachers cannot work anymore hours then they already do.

OddBoots · 18/08/2015 21:56

My dd's school has the learning resources centre and staff available until 5pm each day, the students all know that there is the space, the resources and support there to do their homework on site if they wish but of 2000 students fewer than about 25 a day do so. There is also a free breakfast club from 7.30am-8.30am with a cooked breakfast on offer, around 100 a day take this up.This is an area with high deprivation where is is likely many don't have the same resources at home.

I don't know making either compulsory would be of benefit as those who didn't want to be there would disrupt it for those who do.

Sallyhasleftthebuilding · 18/08/2015 21:56

After school clubs, £5 an hour, teacher pay ... plus how would they mark/prepare? And kids would need a change of scenery? Different children/enviroment? Longer hours does not make them more productive.

EvilTwins · 18/08/2015 21:57

I teach and if this were the case, then my own kids would miss their piano lesson (Tuesday, 5-5.), drama group (Wednesday 5-6) and choir (Thursday 5.15) How is that fair? School is not childcare.

Wolfiefan · 18/08/2015 21:57

They are children. Why on earth should they work office hours?
Some students struggle to get through the day as it is. Ask any teacher who has had their most difficult class last thing on a Friday.

jeronimoh · 18/08/2015 21:59

Children wouldn't be seeing daylight in the winter months - not healthy!

Mehitabel6 · 18/08/2015 22:02

I can't think why children need office hours.
No chance of it- the country couldn't afford all that extra pay for staff.
Makes it very difficult for dental appointments etc and after school activities.

Mehitabel6 · 18/08/2015 22:03

There is boarding school if you want those hours.

echt · 18/08/2015 22:08

Not sure why education should ever be a preparation for the working day, or working life for that matter. That is what having a job does.

By that logic, they could be doing 6-2/2-10 shifts. Or nights.

And no, such a discussion cannot separated from effects on teaching staff - when would they attend the endless meetings, make phone calls they currently do after school? Oh, that would be after after school. Hmm

Then after that they can get on with marking and prep.

Funny how a thread about longer school hours alway raises its ugly head around the end of the summer holidays.

Tooooooohot · 18/08/2015 22:12

Longer days with physical education every day and no homework would be very beneficial. Why do secondary schools finish so early? They didn't when I was young. Private schools have longer days and those kids do ok.

Mehitabel6 · 18/08/2015 22:19

They finish earlier than when I was at school because they have shorter lunch breaks.

BoneyBackJefferson · 18/08/2015 22:21

lunchpack

You can't really discuss this without taking in to account "whys and wherefores on the impact on teachers"

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