Should the School Day Be Extended?

Nope think they do enough in the day as it is

Well if it improves the education then I don’t see why not. I don’t know a great deal about the education system but it seems to me they’re making school more regimented and less fun which is fine if the education is improving but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

As I know a couple of teachers I think they would say no. They spend so much time at home preparing lessons etc that it would be unfair to extend their working day. They reckon they spend up to 60 hours a week working already.

Considering the crisis in retaining teachers and the pay issue's, I don’t think they would be able to even if they wanted.

God know. The day is far to long as it is. There's only so much sitting, being quiet and taking in information someone can handle. Making the day longer will not make kids learn more. They will switch off and stay where they are academically.

This would only work if each school had somewhere for the teachers to bed and breakfast on site as they would never get time to go home between the last lesson, the paperwork and the preparation for later lessons. Not even to mention after school clubs etc

There's already a teacher shortage and pay disputes - who's going to want to make up for the extra work I wonder...

My boys school day has been extended since lockdown it's long enough

It's quite long day already, my son started secondary, starts 8.10 am finishes 2.40 pm.

More than enough. We have always managed childcare, however if parents need more childcare, maybe afternoon clubs could be an idea.

No because majority of school work is nonsense anyway.

I get that it makes it easier for some working parents but they are still little and I think 3pm is long enough

The whole system needs looking at, but just tinkering with the hours is only going to cause issues for staff and the children without any real evidence that it would actually do any good. We need to look at what we teach and how we teach it first before we start messing about with the hours.

In East Asia, kids often start their day off at school and then attend various after school activities which then takes them into the night. Mind you, it’s safer for the out there, and it’s part of their culture (parents are often working 70+ hours per week)

Timing is perfect that this was posted up as my son's school was texting us to ask if they can shorten the days lol .

So currently at our son's school they do week A and week B and according to the school its problematic and they are doing a consultation which will include on Wednesday and Fridays they finish at 14.20 instead of 3pm .They are using the difficulty for lunch time as a cover and I have replied to it by saying my son goes in at 8.30am and he will be finishing at 3pm .

Nope, there is only so much a childs brain can absorb before they lose interest. It also means a longer day for teachers, cleaners and other staff. Schools are often used for other activities, clubs etc once the school day ends. It would also mean other clubs (football, martial arts, dancing etc) or activities after school would have to change. Halls and community centres are hired by after school clubs, so this would have to change which would any activity in the evening would also have to change.

Yes I think so - breakfast club every morning with a free breakfast so that every child starts the day right regardless of circumstances. Then only extended with extra curricular activities at the end of the day, be it fun or sport. Of course this means a substantial payrose for the teachers though !!

I think the school day itself is adequate. However, why not use licensed childminders/youth workers to hold fun after-school activities for those who require childcare. It could be chargeable, but as more kids are attending, costs would be lower than private care. Could be good for developing decent social skills, giving kids a place to go for fun, and doing something better than hanging around street corners, a bit like a youth club. Doesn't have to be teachers holding the fort. Parents who get subsidies from the government for child care could have it paid straight to the clubs.

Absolutely not, some kids are stretched too much as it is, they struggle especially early mornings, some are up at 6 am or even earlier because of getting ready and catching busses etc.

I can’t see why they can’t do 9 - 6 or 8.30 - 5.30 it would also help those working parents (I know not all parents work 9-5 type job although assume majority would)

If you extend the school day you could get rid of homework as that could be carried out in school time instead, the children wouldn’t be doing more work at home and it would except for those doing exams, keep school work for school, which ultimately is where it should be not interfering in home life.

Parents are not teachers to help or do homework although they we’re expected to be when covid started but everyone conveniently forgets that, some parents were doing their own jobs then having to home school their kids, not everyone was sat at home on full pay or on furlough pay.

The children also lost a lot of proper education through covid which has never been addressed school term should have started early in 2021 in August but heaven forbid the children’s education being more important than teachers having 6 weeks holiday despite a lot already having paid time off in covid.

Teachers are well paid, have a 23.66% employer tax payer pension contribution (allowing them to retire earlier than public sector as they will have a larger pension fund,and also it’s a much better pension than private sector have access too)

A lot of people including myself in the private sector will be doing the extra hours but not getting extra pay over the salaried amount but be on a lower salary to start with and getting a 4% pension contribution and not getting a 6 week break off over the summer. Sorry no sympathy.

Ultimately yes the school day should be extended the children need more education not less, my friend has taken a guy who’s 19 to work in his business and the guy can’t read or write (he couldn’t even read the pub menu to order we had to read it aloud) and this is not inner city this is south west small town, it’s disgraceful the teachers let him down big time, lucky for him he’s a hard worker from a practical perspective so he will have a job

Perhaps time can be given to the basics if school was extended

Yes, so they can gradually get used to the real world

I dont think school days should be extend because it could give a lot of pressure for the kids.

Longer days would help with childcare but I think education is more a case of quality over quantity.

Hell no.

I think 9 to 4 is reasonable with a lunch hour between 12 and 1pm. A 15 minute break inside or out mid morning or afternoon could be incorporated so as to maintain concentration.

Teachers could get children silently reading at end of day with the object of reviewing their book in an essay or orally during English lessons. Teachers could use this quiet time for paperwork.

Yes definitely especially the older you get. Prepare the kids for working life, something i wish i had learnt when i was a teen.