Consultation into reconfiguring the school week begins
03/10/08
Aberdeen City Council has begun a consultation into proposals to reconfigure the school week.
The council is currently working to develop a Strategy for Learning based on the Curriculum for Excellence, but developed to meet local needs as closely as possible. It is believed that that a four-and-a-half day week would help deliver this strategy.
Instead of each school day being the same length, the proposed change could mean four days of the week being a little longer than they currently are, and one a little shorter.
The result would be a four-and-a-half day week in school for pupils providing the same amount of total hours of attendance and teaching that they currently receive.
The principal benefit would be that many teacher training, development sessions and meetings for head teachers and school staff could be arranged for the pupil free afternoons.
Working together with other organisations is an important part of the Curriculum for Excellence and schools will need to build strong partnerships with a range of organisations including: colleges; universities; employers; Skills Development Scotland; community learning and development; the voluntary sector; and other providers to deliver a personalised learning experience for every child and young person.
To allow and encourage this to happen there will need to be time and opportunities for all these groups and organisations to meet and work together. The proposed half day is expected to be very useful in supporting this.
It would also mean that teachers would not have to be released from as many classes to attend meetings or training and there would be much less disruption to the teaching week for pupils.
A further option would be to introduce common start and finish times for secondary schools. This may allow schools to increase the number of higher and vocational courses that they are able to offer on a shared basis and as a result increase the choices for pupils.
No decisions have been made yet, and the council is actively seeking the views of the public. Those views will be considered as part of the consultation process.
More information and response forms are available online at www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/schoolweekconsultation
Views on the proposed four-and-a-half day week can also be submitted by email to schoolweekconsultation@aberdeencity.gov.uk or in writing to School Week Consultation, 5th Floor, St Nicholas House, Broad Street, Aberdeen, AB10 7AR
The closing date for responses is 14 November 2008.
If you have any queries regarding this, or any other news story, please contact Aberdeen City Council on: 01224 522000.
