9 HOUR SCHOOL DAYS, 45 WEEKS OF THE YEAR

[andy01424]

9 HOUR SCHOOL DAYS, 45 WEEKS OF THE YEAR
Under radical proposals by a former advisor to David Cameron, children could be made to stay in school for nine hours a day - 45 weeks of the year. The scheme would see holidays slashed from thirteen weeks a year to just seven, and stretch the average school day from around 9am to 6pm. The former head of the Number 10 Policy Unit suggests his ideas would boost education standards, cut crippling childcare costs, allow millions of mums to return to full-time work, and even slash youth crime by taking troublemakers off the streets. We want to know what you think? Is this is a good idea, or a leap too far? Are you in favour or are you against?
Your comments mat be read out on air.



on there FB page

bbc news
www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-25961514

[Karma]

Whatever happened to family time and kids allowed to be kids with unstructured play?

[Blownupdolly]

Jan 30, 2014 17:31:52 GMT Karma said:

Whatever happened to family time and kids allowed to be kids with unstructured play?

Here, here, karma. I thought the very same. Poor mites. Imagine not getting home till about 6.30pm, then having to wait for dinner. By the time that's done the younger ones will be off to bed.

[Karma]

Jan 30, 2014 17:35:02 GMT Blownupdolly said:

Jan 30, 2014 17:31:52 GMT Karma said:

Whatever happened to family time and kids allowed to be kids with unstructured play?

Here, here, karma. I thought the very same. Poor mites. Imagine not getting home till about 6.30pm, then having to wait for dinner. By the time that's done the younger ones will be off to bed.

What are they going to have for dinner at that time of night, a home cooked meal?

More support should be given to parents of younger children to stay at home, if that's what they want to do!

[ionian]

It'll never happen - they can't afford it! It's asking teachers to increase their hours by, what, a third as well as slashing their holiday, plus the extra marking and lesson prep, plus the support staff hours, plus running and maintenance costs.

And there's no way the teaching unions will support a conservative-led idea that has not even considered of the impact on staff.

Never going to happen.

If there were more staffed voluntary after school activities that weren't necessarily led by teachers, giving children a chance to participate in sports, computer based activities, art and music and provided them with a proper meal, then you might have the start of a workable idea. That's if the government fund it, and it will be expensive.

Woah, sorry for the rant

[beautycat]

Don't even get me started on this!!!! Working in teaching, I know that teachers do not work from 9 -3, no-one I know ever has a full break or lunch, then there are the after school club activities I do 2 and a lunch time club, planning, marking, and sorting go long into the evening and holidays, I could go on and on,

Also many adults don't work that long in a day, so why make children do this, what about home and family time and things like brownies etc that turn them into well rounded individuals plus many children are not academically gifted but gifted in other ways, what about them?

Tired children and learning do not go together, tired children fall out with their friends and become miserable and unresponsive!!!

Rant over

[kingofswords]

i think this country would benefit vastly if those in power were forced to work 9 HOUR SCHOOL DAYS, 45 WEEKS OF THE YEAR

[babs]

Well said. It's stupid to expect children to do what those in power can't. All children need to play whether sports or games.

[Raffles]

Send 'em up the chimneys!

[Bluefish]

Not a bad idea, but maybe finish 5-5:30ish, whilst at the same time maybe starting school at a later age? swings roundabouts

[xs2man]

It is an idea in the right direction. Education standards to need lifting afterall. We can barely compete internationally in manufacturing, so we need to be a technical nation going forward, and what better way to do that than a higher educated population?

As a means to cut childcare costs though, hopeless. Teacher cost FAR more than childcare workers.

I'm pretty sure there are loads of countries out there with such long school hours, and I'm sure my little sister does long hours like that, plus Saturday mornings at her school (albeit a public school). So it's not unheard of.

45 weeks a year is a bit much though. I get it though, who else gets to take 13 weeks off a year? But kids gotta be kids too... Work them harder during term times, but let them be kids after it.

[fagin]

My son is regularly at school from 7am to 7pm, and before he started A levels he had to be there Saturday mornings as well.
He's a day boarder and they keep them busy. That includes meals, sport and prep, but he does longer hours than me.

The early mornings are voluntary - he is a fitness fanatic and does an early morning fitness session.

Can't say it's done him any harm. He has a good social life and we spend a lot of time together - mountain biking and things.

It's not how much time you have, it's what you do with it.

[babs]

Maybe it would be better to have school hours on a sliding scale less for younger children and include a lot of the after school activities such as sports and swimming to a greater degree

[fagin]

That's how his works - school starts at 8 officially, breakfast before that for the full boarders, lessons until lunchtime, then another period, followed but a few hours of a choice - anything from rugby to art, then supper, followed by a few hours prep.
A long day, but when they get home they are at least pretty much finished for the day so can relax.
Saturday was a choice out of about 40 - his was mountain biking, so it was really just get to school and go for a group ride. Idea was that as the boarders had to be there, the day boarders should as well - school spirit and all that.

It's actually a government boarding school, but with really good facilities - gym, swimming pool, theatre etc.

[beautycat]

My school starts at 8.35 and clubs after school finish at 4.15, quite a long day for a 7 year old especially if they do breakfast club and after school club