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Original poster

Extending the school day

186 replies

LemonSherbetFancies · 01/06/2021 12:37

What are your thoughts on this?
Many are saying it is pointless and won't achieve much if an extra half hour or so is tagged onto the end of the day. Others have said that it should be based more on sports and free choice activities but my thinking is, isn't that what after school clubs are for?

OP posts:
CrazyCatsAndKittens · 01/06/2021 12:41

I know people who have already said they won't comply with this.

My friend abroad last year had a shortened summer and winter holiday to make up for lost school time. I suspect whatever the UK government decides people will get upset.

Theworldisfullofgs · 01/06/2021 12:43

My ds's school day is already long as he travels. That's common for rural areas. He leaves for school at 7.30 am and gets home about 4.45.
A longer school day would have to ge focused to make it even remotely worthwhile

His wellbeing is important or he won't learn.

AlohaMolly · 01/06/2021 12:44

In theory I would not comply with it for DS aged 5. He’s doing just fine socially and academically and I am in the position to pick him up from school without the need for paid childcare. I want to be able to extend his experiences in terms of out of school activities, even if that is just an early dinner in a restaurant!

In practice, I’m not sure how non compliance would work. Drag him out and make him feel different to his peers?

Notonthestairs · 01/06/2021 12:46

It won't happen because it will cost more money. If they aren't going to pay for basic school supplies they aren't going to pay for the additional funds needed to extend the school day.

CherieBabySpliffUp · 01/06/2021 12:47

I can't see that an extra 30 minutes would be of any use in secondary schools given lessons tend to be an hour-ish long

Cantaloupeisland · 01/06/2021 12:50

The thing is, kids aren't like dustbins that you can fill up with learning until they're done. The learning experience is very much about quality over quantity in a targeted way. Our school are taking part in the national tutoring program which offers 1-1 English and maths tuition to those students identified as needing extra support and this seems to work well. A blanket forcing of all students to tack an extra thirty minutes on to the day doesn't seem like it would have a great deal of benefit, plus how would it work in practice, which subjects would get that extra time etc?
Then there is the question of what students have actually 'lost' - many academic progress targets are rather arbitrary and don't take into account individual learning speeds. Just feels like more of the government saying look look we're doing something!

Faithless12 · 01/06/2021 12:52

@CherieBabySpliffUp

I can't see that an extra 30 minutes would be of any use in secondary schools given lessons tend to be an hour-ish long
Secondaries that I’ve taught at lesson lengths vary from 35 minutes (private) to 50 mins to 1hr 10 (state). I doubt 30 minutes will make much of a difference state schools could easily add another hour onto the day to almost match private schools day length but then I think most teachers will expect to benefit from the increased holidays as well.
PastMyBestBeforeDate · 01/06/2021 12:55

I thought that too Cherie. By the time they're into the lesson and sat down then it's even shorter.
Not to mention teachers having to do an extra 2.5 hours a week and the rejigging of school buses etc. And plenty of clubs that operate after school would clash.

Smartiepants79 · 01/06/2021 12:57

I have no desire to extant my children’s day.
They’re children, they need down time.
I know the kids I teach are done by 3:30

Original poster
LemonSherbetFancies · 01/06/2021 12:57

I do wonder if it will be optional if it does end up going ahead
?.

OP posts:
PretzelParadox · 01/06/2021 13:02

My DS's school has shortened the school day by 15 minutes, initially using Covid as an reason, but they've just confirmed they've made it permanent. So I would welcome those extra 15 minutes back, if not a bit more Smile

Horst · 01/06/2021 13:09

Depends what the 30 are more. 30 minutes of extra Pe/yoga style for mental health to improve the body and hopefully help them merely that would encourage better learning sure. 30 minutes of hand writing lessons nah.

eddiemairswife · 01/06/2021 13:11

Is this one of Gavin Williamson's great ideas? So far, as Education Secretary, he has had remarkably few of them. I sometimes wonder if he even knows what job he has been given.

ladywithnomanors · 01/06/2021 13:12

Stupid idea. Penalise the kids by extending their school day isn’t fair on them. They’ve had enough crap to deal with over the past year.

WaverleyPirate · 01/06/2021 13:14

Shows how out of touch the politicians have got.

  1. Teachers already work well past end of school day either in school or taking work home. So government are proposing to pay extra for something they currently get for free.
  1. Only difference is you would have tired disengaged children on site longer.
  1. Have they considered consulting parents, teachers and heads? Of course they haven't.
SonnetForSpring · 01/06/2021 13:18

It probably won't go ahead. If it does go ahead, it would have to be compulsory but not sure if it would be compulsory for everyone or just for some.

lolypoly · 01/06/2021 13:20

My children's school have already implemented a longer learning day. 3 days a week they start 30 mins early. I'm really glad as I feel that it will help massively

Waxonwaxoff0 · 01/06/2021 13:32

I don't want it. Would be a massive help for me as a single working parent but I don't think a longer school day would benefit my primary age DS.

Daisydoor12 · 01/06/2021 13:34

It will depend on what the 30mins are used for. Also England already has a long school day as it and shorter hols than some other European countries. If government were serious about providing catch up and closing the gap they would invest in smaller class sizes and more personalised learning.

OhThoseBubbles · 01/06/2021 13:42

Stupid idea. Penalise the kids by extending their school day isn’t fair on them. They’ve had enough crap to deal with over the past year.

Not to mention the teachers to.... People seem to forget about them or refuse to think what they must have gone through. Hmm Sick of hearing it's just the kids who suffer.

OhThoseBubbles · 01/06/2021 13:43

Poor darlings Hmm

Anawi · 01/06/2021 13:57

I think it would be the final straw for a lot of teachers who are already close to breaking point. I wouldn't want my three children doing a longer day, the children I teach are past it by about 2.30pm never mind adding an extra hour to the day. I would very seriously contemplate resigning and home educating my own children, as would several other teachers I know, we can't be the only ones!
It won't happen anyway, like someone else said,it would require extra funding, the government wouldn't even give schools a few £ extra to pay for hand sanitiser over the last year sooooo... no chance, all hot air.

GameSetMatch · 01/06/2021 13:58

My children finish at 3.00 I’ve never know school to finish so early, the local high school finishes at 2.45, the extra half hour would do no harm. I’m easy either way but schools do finish ridiculously early these days.

StillNoFuckingEyeDeer · 01/06/2021 14:05

The primary my kids are at has shortened the school day by 25 minutes since covid. Maybe we could just go back to the original start and finish times.

WrongKindOfFace · 01/06/2021 14:05

@GameSetMatch

My children finish at 3.00 I’ve never know school to finish so early, the local high school finishes at 2.45, the extra half hour would do no harm. I’m easy either way but schools do finish ridiculously early these days.
They also tend to have shorted breaks so it balances out.