Consultation - School week structure

This model exists in other parts of Scotland and has the potential to improve the education, wellbeing and outcomes for our children and young people as well as making Dumfries and Galloway Council a more attractive prospect for teaching staff to apply to. 

Q&A with the Exec Director

Have your say

• Please complete the parent and carer questionnaire, available until 11 October at Parent/Carer Questionnaire (office.com)
• If you are not a Parent or Carer, but still wish to play an active role in this consultation, please complete the citizen questionnaire. This will also be open until 11 October - https://forms.office.com/e/QS5bX70J3F.

Elected members will consider the feedback from this consultation in November and make a decision at that time on whether the change to the school week structure will be implemented.

What is being proposed

• The school week - parents and carers [PPTX - 5MB]

How will the school week look?

• Primary school - proposed changes [PDF - 366KB]
• Secondary school - proposed changes [PDF - 376KB]

When

Please come along and have your say at our community drop in about the proposal for changes to the structure of the school week Join us anytimebetween 4.30pm and 7pm to hear more about the proposal and tell us your views. 

There will be information and staff available on the night and you will have the opportunity to fill in a survey.

The Community Drop-in sessions at Dumfries Academy and Kircudbright Academy will be supported by BSL translators.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What is the main purpose of changing the structure of the school week?

The perceived benefits include improved wellbeing for children and young people, potential increase in recruitment and wellbeing, enhanced extracurricular opportunities, a more consistent experience across our primary schools, a more comprehensive secondary curriculum including better work experience and apprenticeships, and increased opportunities for community volunteering for children and young people.

What are the main benefits for my child?

• improved wellbeing for children and young people
• children and young people more likely to have the best teachers because of improved recruitment
• increased extracurricular opportunities
• comprehensive senior phase curriculum with work experience and apprenticeships
• more opportunities for community volunteering

How will children and young people benefit from being in school for less time?

Children and young people will continue to spend the same amount of time in school each week.

Teachers tell us that they do not have enough hours to deliver their subjects to pupils and that homework is necessary. Will this mean that children and young people are expected to do more homework or online learning outwith the normal school week?

Schools will be using the structure of the school week as an opportunity to review and enhance their curriculum.

No increase in homework is envisaged but there will be more opportunities for completing courses online in the senior phase.

There will be no reduction in the amount of time teachers have to teach the curriculum, albeit they will finish earlier on one day per week.

How will this affect all school staff, teachers, support staff, administrative staff etc? Will it lead to changes in contracts?

If the decision is made to change the structure of the school week, there will be no changes to the number of contractual hours and pay for staff.

Is this a cost saving exercise?

No.

What financial impact will this proposal have on the council as a whole?

There may be some cost implication, but they are not seen to be prohibitive at this stage.

Will all schools across the region operate an identical timetable if this model is agreed?

All school days will have similar timings, but the specific classes offered may vary slightly between schools.

Has it already been decided that the half day will be on a Friday afternoon? What other days have been half days for schools? If other days are discounted, what reasons are given for that?

• all days will be taken into consideration. None have been excluded
• typically, a Friday lunchtime finish is common across Scotland, but we are flexible and open to alternative days
• the final decision will be taken by elected members

Have you considered providing a digital device to all pupils/students in the region, as other areas in Scotland have done?

Up to now, we have been successful in offering online courses in Dumfries and Galloway. This year, Dumfries and Galloway Council received the Digital Transformation Award at the MJ Awards. Even though not every young person has a digital device, we work with young people and families to support access.

Will there be options for children (primary) to stay in school for after school activities on a Friday and if so, will this be free and who will deliver it?

We are hoping to co-ordinate the offer of clubs, activities, and volunteering opportunities in every community for children and young people of all ages. Some of these activities may be free, although others may require a fee.

Will there be options for young people (secondary) to stay in school for extra-curricular activities on a Friday and if so, will this be free and who will deliver it?

We are hoping to coordinate offers in every community for children and young people of all ages. Some of these activities may be free, although others may require a fee.

My child receives free school meals, will this still be an option on the half day?

Canteens will be open in the afternoon on shorter days to offer takeaway lunches for students who are eligible for free school meals.

My child receives support in the classroom on a Friday afternoon. Will this support still be available to them?

We want to ensure that each child receives the same total hours of support, even though it may be arranged at different times.

In an example of the timetable published online, I have noticed that you are proposing to stop registration classes in secondary schools. Is this still the case? How do you propose to mitigate the impact this will have on our young people, particularly in the transition phase?

The decision to retain registration will be at the discretion of each individual school.

How will school transport be managed?

As it is now. School bus contracts will be renegotiated to ensure the 'home run' is earlier on the appropriate day of the week.

Will school transport still be provided in the most rural areas of the region?

Yes.

If my child attends an extracurricular opportunity on a Friday afternoon will school transport still be available for them?

We are not able to provide additional transport for after school activities.

What discussion has been held with community partners/organisations to provide access to positive after school activities for Friday afternoons and what financial resources are being set aside to buy in these services?

We have had positive discussions with Getsporty and Active Schools that have given us confidence that there will be opportunities available for most young people.

How will this proposal affect after school clubs on the other days of the week?

It is possible that some activities will choose to switch.

I live in a rural area of the region where there are no paid childcare options on a Friday afternoon. If you implement this model, what support can you offer to me as a parent, to allow me to continue to work on a Friday afternoon?

We are engaging with childcare providers to understand the level of provision available should it be required. As part of this piece of work, we are seeking to make access to school buildings straightforward and cost-effective for childcare providers and others.

I am a business owner and I employ staff who have children of school age. What support and assurance can you offer me to ensure I can still operate my business effectively on a Friday afternoon?

We are working hard to making sure that our children and young people have choices for where they can spend their time on shorter days.

I run a local sports club. Will the school be made available on a Friday afternoon for us to run a club in school? What charges will apply?

School buildings will be available for clubs/activities on the shorter day. If there are several activities happening at the same time, this will be managed locally.

Will you complete an Impact Assessment? When will that be published?

Yes. November.

Are there examples of how this model has been delivered elsewhere with success?

Many local authorities in Scotland, including Borders, Edinburgh and North Lanarkshire have chosen to implement this model, and so far, none have reverted to the five-full-days model.

What have been the main challenges and how were these overcome?

Childcare and transportation are commonly cited challenges for many local authorities and families. We have been inspired by the successful strategies implemented in Scottish Borders to address these issues and are eager to explore similar solutions for with local communities.

How is the final decision on this made, who makes it and when?

During the engagement and consultation process no decision will made on the outcome. The elected members will review the consultation feedback and decide at a special committee meeting in November.

Further information

If you have any further queries, please email us at: theschoolweek@dumgal.gov.uk