Dundee secondary schools are set for a shake-up of the way they schedule lessons.
Among the claimed benefits are the simplification of organising work experience courses at the college and lessons at the city campus, which sees pupils from schools across the city brought together to study for advanced courses.
The education director argued that the 33-period school week would also take account of the needs of Curriculum for Excellence.
“It has the potential to ensure increased flexibility for learners, an extension of personal choice and a good balance of study across each of the curricular subject areas,” he added. “Based on feedback from other council areas, the 33-period model is a more flexible curriculum organiser.”
Mr Wood said changes to lunchtimes would affect catering and cleaning staff and changes to the end of the school day would have implications for transport arrangements.
A consultation would be needed, planned for next month and November. That would include meetings for parents and talks with unions. A report would be brought back to councillors in January, with an August start in mind.
Councillor Laurie Bidwell, education spokesman for the opposition Labour group, said: “I think a proposal that would lead to a change in the start and finish time of the school day in our secondary schools will be of great interest to pupils and their teachers as well parents and carers.
“In fact parents’ and carers’ first thoughts may be about the potential inconvenience of juggling working hours and out of school care and getting used to earlier finish times on two afternoons a week.
“I think we will all want to be convinced that the disruption of change will have a worthwhile educational benefit.
“I met the director of education and gave him notice that on Monday night I will have some questions for him about the benefits of the proposed new timetable for the teaching and learning of our pupils.”
He said he would also be urging a wider consultation with the 6000 secondary pupils rather than only with pupil councils and the addition of an online survey for parents.
Proposals will be put to councillors next week to switch all nine schools to a 33-period week although extensive consultations with staff, parents and pupils will be needed before the move can go ahead.
Bus companies will also have to be included in the talks because the timing of the end of the school day could change, affecting services that take hundreds of pupils home.
Education director Michael Wood said: “The introduction of the 33-period model will ensure commonality across our secondary schools. It will standardise the school day, including lunchtimes, and will make timetabling easier for schools.”
He said it would help to deliver the target of two hours of physical education per week and also extend opportunities for vocational education and allow more time for practical subjects.
Eight schools have a 30-period week and one uses a 40-period model. The structure and timing of the school day varies considerably from school to school.
Mr Wood said the proposed model would maximise the amount of teaching time that can be delivered and had been agreed with head teachers after they looked at options, including some used in other local authorities.
If the change is approved, it would see the schools have three days per week with seven teaching periods and two days with six periods.
An illustrative example drawn up for councillors shows the school day could end at 3.50pm or 3pm depending on the number of 50-minute periods timetabled, although these timings are not specific.
Mr Wood said: “The implementation of Curriculum for Excellence requires a specific focus on the development of high-quality and relevant vocational learning to prepare pupils for the wider world of work.
“The move to a 33-period week and a common school day across the city will improve joint working arrangements and make it easier for schools to timetable shared courses and provide increased choice for young people.”
Continued…