The conversation on whether or not schools in Dumfries and Galloway should move to a four-and-a-half day week is set to be opened up widely this week.
Following criticism about a lack of involvement with parents around the proposed changes, Dumfries and Galloway Council chiefs have now drawn up plans for a comprehensive consultation process.
This is set to run from June until September, and the views of all stakeholders will be sought, including parents and carers, pupils, community councils, parent councils, the region’s youth council, all school staff (teaching and non-teaching), trade unions, other council services, and partner organisations.
The consultation will consist of a blend of focus groups, community conversations, presentations, and online questionnaires.
These measures are being taken after numerous councillors complained about a lack of community involvement on such a big policy change which will affect working and care arrangements for parents and pupils.
Council leader Gail Macgregor said the move would “produce huge logistical and childcare challenges.”
A new report on the matter will be tabled at the council’s education committee this Thursday where councillors will be asked to rubber stamp the consultation plans.
Co-authored by the council’s chief education officer, Jim Brown, and Alison Chambers, the council’s quality improvement manager. the report reads: “Currently schools across the region can choose to implement a timetable that suits their specific needs.
“A report was provided to this committee to update members on the delivery of curriculum transformation – secondary school timetable structure and alignment and seek approval to implement a fully efficient timetable model in all secondary schools.
“We will consider the views of a wide range of stakeholders and present elected members, with findings to make a decision that best meet the needs of stakeholders, including children and young people across Dumfries and Galloway.”
A restructure of the secondary school timetable has been developed by a working group following a lengthy consultation process. This would mean condensing the school week and finishing early on a Friday to improve work-life balance for both teachers and pupils.
The proposals, if approved further down the line, would mean a slightly earlier start of 8.50am for period one lessons, 50 minutes of learning time for each class, and the day split into seven periods between Monday to Thursday.
On Fridays, there would be just five periods, with the first at 8.50am and the last one finishing at 1.40pm before the bell for the week rings.
The total learning time for the week would remain the same but all 16 high schools would finally be operating under one single timetable.
