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Secondary education

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Original poster

Do you think 25 mins lunch break is too short?

63 replies

VivaLeBeaver · 13/06/2015 14:40

Dds school have sent a letter home saying the day is being.

The mid morning break is been reduced from 15 to 10 mins and lunch is being reduced from 35 mins to 25 mins. That's a 25 min gap from the end of of one lesson to the beginning of the next.

By the time they've actually left the classroom and met up with friends and sat down and started eating and then had to think about making sure they get to afternoon lessons in time you're looking at a 15 min break.

That's if they have a pack up. If they have to queue at the canteen to be served a hot meal it'll be more like 5 mins to eat. The letter does say they're looking at an app to pre order food and more vending machines to speed up lunch queue! But they'll still have to queue to be served.

I just feel a bit sad that there doesn't seem to be any thought about the importance of kids actually having a bit of time with their friends.

OP posts:
Original poster
VivaLeBeaver · 13/06/2015 14:41

The day is being restructured that first sentence was meant to say.

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noblegiraffe · 13/06/2015 15:04

That is fucking ridiculous. The kids need time to eat and relax. Without a proper break their concentration levels in the afternoon will be shocking. A ten minute morning break isn't enough, and 25 minutes will definitely mean a rush for food and no chance for things like lunch clubs (or detentions).

Bunbaker · 13/06/2015 15:07

DD has a 45 minute lunch break and doesn't always have time to queue up for lunch. 25 minutes is just not going to work.

I bet the union will have something to say about that as well.

HettyD · 13/06/2015 15:15

We have 35 minutes. Do you think this is to it down poor behaviour at lunch? Or to squeeze in more time for teaching/an extra lesson? Do they finish earlier? Interesting - I would be asking what the teaching union rep and the governors have to say...let alone the poor canteen staff (vending machines don't sound as if they fit with 'healthyschools'policy either)

HmmAnOxfordComma · 13/06/2015 15:17

Way, way too short for proper eating or relaxation/socialising.

I assume they have or will be having no lunchtime clubs at all?

Are they adding the saved minutes onto teaching time or finishing the day earlier? Schools usually do this if they have behaviour problems, but that just results in the kids being out in the community even earlier in the afternoon. Not ideal at all.

TheTroubleWithAngels · 13/06/2015 15:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Shakey1500 · 13/06/2015 15:20

Yes, too short by far.

We only get 30 mins at work and it's simply not enough of a break.

noblegiraffe · 13/06/2015 15:22

I wonder what the teachers think. Ten minutes morning break won't be enough time to go to the staff room and get a cup of tea.

Lottiedoubtie · 13/06/2015 15:22

On the face of it, that seems ridiculously short. What sort of school is it? Have they offered any sort of explanation?

Rathalie · 13/06/2015 15:24

I went to a school where we only had 30 mins for lunch. I thought it was great as it meant the school day ended at 2.45 and I could escape. I would have hated a longer lunch break - more time for the bullies to do their thing. It did mean there were no lunchtime clubs as there just wasn't time.

GlitzAndGigglesx · 13/06/2015 15:26

It's too short. We get a 20 minute break at work and it's impossible to let your food so much be swallowed before you're back to work and they're really strict on timing

wtffgs · 13/06/2015 15:31

This is likely to be behaviour-related and a band-aid solution at that-. The behaviour issues will just surface elsewhere. Kids can be truly vile to each other within the confines of a decent lesson.

Original poster
VivaLeBeaver · 13/06/2015 15:34

It's an academy comp. as far as I know it's not behaviour related.

We have a new head who wants to squeeze more teaching in.

School currently starts at 8:10 and finishes at 15:00. From Sept Yr 11 and sixth form have to stay till 16:50. That's more than an adult working day!

The head does say they will consider changing it again and making lunch longer but if they do that they will aphave to make the day longer.

My step mum is a governor, think I might ring and moan to her!

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noblegiraffe · 13/06/2015 15:43

Y11 will have to stay till 16:50 with only a 25 minute break for lunch? And they expect them to actually be capable of learning anything after about 3? They'll be dead on their feet.

Original poster
VivaLeBeaver · 13/06/2015 15:55

That's what I think.

Even the younger years will be knackered with such a short break.

Plus they've not said what will happen about the school bus which currently leaves at 3pm.

This past few weeks anyone taking exams have missed the bus as the gcse doesn't finish till 3pm and the school buses don't wait. So parents I know have been having to drive the 8 miles to pick their kid up. But I work and can't do that. I was worried About sorting that for a few weeks of exams but now I'll have a whole 3 years possibly to worry about it.

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5madthings · 13/06/2015 15:55

Yanbu it's crap, my boys academy has done the same thing re break and lunch and extended the school day on three days of the week.

Oddly enough staff are leaving in droves. Ds1 has six more exams to take next week and then he leaves, ds2 is in yr8 and we are looking at alternative schools.

Original poster
VivaLeBeaver · 13/06/2015 15:56

The council will never pay for two lots of buses.

So either everyone hangs around for two hours waiting for the Years 11 and sixth form or those older kids make their own way home?

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DioneTheDiabolist · 13/06/2015 16:00

I am a slow eater. 25minutes for lunch is ridiculous.

Original poster
VivaLeBeaver · 13/06/2015 16:03

They're not going to listen to me moaning about it are they?

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YoureAllABunchOfBastards · 13/06/2015 16:03

Bloody hell.

If our Y11 stay back - usually for an hour, so til 4.30 - we try and give them a drink and biscuits to keep them going or ignore them nipping out for a quick fag. That's with a full 45 minute dinner break at half twelve as well.

Pipbin · 13/06/2015 16:04

This kind of stuff is why we need to be marching in the streets about academies. They can do what they like.
Surely the breaks aren't enough for the adults who at least have Union backing.

Original poster
VivaLeBeaver · 13/06/2015 16:05

I never thought about the staff hating it and wanting to leave Sad

Id heard a rumour the Weds early finish (1pm) was going to stop so was expecting that. So they've gained two hours a week from stopping that. Not sure they need another 50mins by slashing lunch time.

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littlesupersparks · 13/06/2015 16:06

Ours was 30 minutes for years and was finally extended to 40. It made a massive difference. IMO 30 minutes actual break (ie with 5 minutes movement time on each end of the break) works well. There is not much time for socialising and clubs/detentions are all after school. Many of our students stay in school until 4.30 to attend clubs or work in the library. There are two lots of buses at 3pm and 4.30.

CamelHump · 13/06/2015 16:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
VivaLeBeaver · 13/06/2015 16:11

At the moment all the clubs are on aWeds afternoon. They can't be after school as 80% of kids catch a bus home at 3pm.

Now it's going to be lessons until 3pm there won't be any clubs.

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