The decision by Dundee to shift to a new 33-period secondary school week has caused consternation in Angus, where the issue remains under discussion.
Dundee City Council took the decision on Monday evening to agree a radical upheaval of the traditional school timetable from July.
It did so in the wake of a move towards the new model by local authorities across the country, many of whom are already claiming its success.
Schools in Angus are in the midst of a series of evening consultations on the same issue though any implementation would be delayed until 2017.
They will take place between 6.30 and 8pm at Forfar Academy on Thursday, Webster’s High on February 1, Brechin High on February 2, Carnoustie High on February 8 and at Arbroath High on February 10.
Geoff Hobson, chairman of Webster’s High School parent council, said: “I am keen that as many parents as possible attend these meetings even parents of primary children as their children will be affected when they go up to secondary school.
“The Dundee decision does give the impression that for most local authorities the shift is a ‘done deal’ but there is no reason that Angus cannot be different.
“A variety of school finishing times and pupils expected to study for two-and-a-half hours of lessons without any break will result from the changes to school timetables proposed by education officers in Angus.
“They say the change will improve attainment in a variety of ways, but considerable concern was expressed at recent Webster’s High School parent council meetings.
“No one at the meetings expressed support for the change and personally I don’t believe it will work very well.
“The model has as many problems as solutions and while I am sure that in the long run the teachers will make anything work, I know there are a number who don’t want this, but are worried about speaking out.”
In Dundee, education chiefs have been told they face a fight to regain the trust of hundreds of city teachers after “steamrollering through” plans for the new school week.
The decision was taken almost unanimously by members of Dundee’s education committee amid claims all head teachers and most teachers, pupils and parents were for the change.
David Baxter, Educational Institute of Scotland local association secretary for Dundee, told The Courier the views of teachers across the city had been ignored. He said there would be a “breakdown in trust” between teachers and the council if education chiefs do not take steps to talk to those who have yet to be convinced and alleviate their fears.