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Original poster

Do you disagree with the Longer school hours proposed?

181 replies

aproudmum · 11/02/2014 13:11

If like me for many reasons do not - can you please sign and share this petition -
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/change-of-hours-for-schooling

OP posts:
rollonthesummer · 11/02/2014 19:23

Are you banking on this childcare being free, doitmyself?

doitmyself · 11/02/2014 19:28

I have no idea how Gove will do this and I dont' actually expect it to happen but its' bloody attractive to some SN Parents.
We cant find childminders, there are no playschemes in the holidays. Afterschool 'clubs' dont take our kids.
It's just one perspective you know. It would be a boon for us.

somewherewest · 11/02/2014 19:31

I want to spend time with my daughter after school, not get her home, shovel some food in and then send her to bed

Yep!

Retropear · 11/02/2014 19:34

But doit wouldn't you rather more money was spent on better quality childcare out of school and transport for SEN children and parents like you?

rollonthesummer · 11/02/2014 19:38

Tbh, the more people talk about the realities of this and the hope it will enable eg parents with SN to not have their children after school, the less I worry. There will never be the funding for any of this.

doitmyself · 11/02/2014 19:39

Of course I would Retro but it's never going tp happen. School is my only break.

FamiliesShareGerms · 11/02/2014 19:41

Ah well, as a working mother who "just shovels food into my children and packs them off to bed" when I collect them at 6pm, Hmm I think making schools think more creatively about what their pupils do when they leave their gates and what they can offer (particularly for more vulnerable children, who aren't going home to a warm house with a decent dinner and parents to help with reading and homework) is not a bad thing at all.

Goldmandra · 11/02/2014 19:47

There will never be the funding for any of this.

When Michael Gove was interviewed on This Morning he made it patently clear that there would be no extra funding to pay for this.

doit I completely get why it would help you but that doesn't justify removing choice. My DDs also have additional needs but their mean that an extended school day would make our family life a living hell.

There are better ways to give parents of children with additional needs the breaks they need.

NannyPeach · 11/02/2014 19:50

Well the public school up thread does sound very jolly... but totally incomparable to your average inner city school. Private schools have the facilities to provide care until 6pm, whether it's in their 'houses', at the pool or in the gym - normal schools don't have this, so I can't see how this would be possible at all.

My own children practise their musical instruments every day for an hour after school as well as attending brownies / beavers etc - this would be impossible if they were forced to attend a longer school day.

I work part of the week, so an optional longer day would be ideal, but if this was forced I would prefer to home educate Confused.

Signed.

doitmyself · 11/02/2014 19:53

I did say 'optional' but I cant see it happening whatever Gove spouts. It would cost too much. If there was spare money they should be using it to repair school buildings and deal with crappy schools.

roundtable · 11/02/2014 19:56

I don't think it'll happen or that there is any intention of it happening.

I think they say the most out there thing possible so everyone is up in arms and then slip through something that people wouldn't have agreed to but suddenly doesn't look so bad in comparison to the supposed original idea.

BoneyBackJefferson · 11/02/2014 19:57

I look forward to some parents ringing me up and complaining that I haven't brought up their kids properly.

Oh hang on, that already happens.

PatriciaHolm · 11/02/2014 20:02

There is absolutely zero chance of this happening in the form of compulsory after school hours. There is no money!

BoneyBackJefferson · 11/02/2014 20:05

If gove is successful in dismantling teacher's pay and conditions it could do as he wouldn't have to provide anymore money.

HunterWellies · 11/02/2014 20:06

If it were compulsory it would have to be without charge to parents wouldn't it?

Anyway it's an unutterably shit idea. I posted this pic of Gove on another thread at the weekend but it bears repeating...

I did laugh at the snarky jibe at 'yummy mummies' up thread though... Oh dear!

Do you disagree with the Longer school hours proposed?
GoldenBeagle · 11/02/2014 20:06

Great as an optional offer. It would enable more kids to access drama, sport, music etc, if it is not possible or the inclination of parents to take them . Great option for working parents and good for all kids to have a range of interesting things to do.

But compulsory ? No way. One of my DC has specialist music tuition that is way beyind general school music clubs, I was involved in sport at a county and national level. We needed the specialist coaches to train for competition , not our PE teacher or a school club.

Some of the academies in our area operate a compulsory school day til 5pm , and it works well. It is an area of multiple deprivation and there was a big problem with anti social behaviour 3.30-5 when the kids were unsupervised.

So I can CHOOSE whether to send DC to a school that does 8.30-5, or to one which finishes earlier. Choice: great, by law?

Get your Govish claws off my DC, off my role as a parent and out of my family !

starlight1234 · 11/02/2014 20:07

No one has talked about tea...My DS cannot got to 6.30 ( which would be the time I got him home if school finished at 6) even if it was ready to serve when we walked in..

I work as a CM if I have children till 6 they are given a hot meal for tea...

My Ds has done a couple of after school activites that have lasted till 4.30 which is more than late enough IMO..

But as grove has said there is no extra money explain really what they can do...It was wet play today so what did they do? Draw and watch a DVD... because there is a whole school to keep in so were in the classrooms.

Retropear · 11/02/2014 20:10

He wants them doing "prep" and "character building activities".Hmm

I think we can safely assume free flute lessons won't be dished out so Lord knows what the "character building activities" would be.

My kids already have character thanks Gove.

MoreBeta · 11/02/2014 20:15

My DCs are already at school 08.00 to 17.30. No problem.

This is a left wing campaign group running this petition isn't it. If you look at the 38 degrees website you will see that is what it is. Why is it a left wing campaign group running it? Should it not be politically neutral this question or is this just another 'get Gove' campaign by politically motivated unions.

doitmyself · 11/02/2014 20:16

in my day 'character building' was standing out in the rain or shoveling snow. Thats what my mum would say. Maybe he's plnning schoolkid labour Hmm
Gove is an arse.

Retropear · 11/02/2014 20:17

Don't joke Doit.

rollonthesummer · 11/02/2014 20:30

If gove is successful in dismantling teacher's pay and conditions it could do as he wouldn't have to provide anymore money.

This is the only way it could work.

BoneyBackJefferson · 11/02/2014 20:49

MoreBeta

"is this just another 'get Gove' campaign by politically motivated unions."

I can't think of anything that gove has done that has :-

worked.
had decent research behind it.
Had a good impact on education.

and he still hasn't defined "rigour" in terms that are quantifiable.

MoreBeta · 11/02/2014 21:54

I think I know rigour when I see it. It means not accepting mediocre and second best.

TamerB · 11/02/2014 22:20

I don't think it is anything to do with unions- it is people who want children to have a childhood.