Trial of longer school days in Wales described as ‘deeply concerning’

Plans to trial longer school days in Wales have been described as “deeply concerning” by a union.

Fourteen schools in the country will pilot a scheme to provide longer hours this academic year.

It follows up to £2m being announced today to support the initiative by Welsh Government Minister for Education and Welsh Language Jeremy Miles.

The primary and secondary schools involved in the trial – none of which are in North Wales –  will receive money to provide an extra five hours of activities four pupils each week, with sessions such as art, music and sport, as well as core academic sessions.

The school day trials will be focused on supporting disadvantaged pupils and schools particularly affected during the coronavirus pandemic.

However, a school leaders’ union has criticised the plans after raising “concerns over the motivation and timing of such a pilot”.

Laura Doel, director of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: “When this idea was first mooted by the Welsh Government, NAHT Cymru raised its concerns over the motivation and timing of such a pilot.

“We have asked the government for the rational and the evidence to support extending the school day and, so far, they have not made the case.

“Schools’ core purpose is teaching and learning and while we want to be supportive of our families, schools are not there as childcare providers.

“Evidence shows that keeping children in school for longer does not increase a child’s capacity to learn; the focus should be on providing quality teaching and learning during schools’ hours.

“It is deeply concerning that the government is prioritising a reform agenda without thinking about the impact on schools.”

The devolved government said the plans draw on international models and proposals made by the Education Policy Institute.

Work will be carried out in collaboration with the Plaid Cymru Senedd group, as part of the party’s recently-signed co-operation agreement with the Welsh Government.

Headteachers will decide on how and what is delivered in each school during the trial period, which is due to start in the spring term and run for up to 10 weeks.

The government said local needs would be taken into consideration with the funding provided for the trial giving schools the discretion to outsource the running of the additional sessions if needed, or to adapt existing activities such as after school clubs.

The minister also confirmed that over the coming months discussions will take place with young people and their families, education staff, and businesses to seek their views on potentially reforming school term dates.

Mr Miles said: “We are committed to reducing educational inequalities and improving learner and staff well-being.

“We know that supporting learners to benefit from an extended range of activities, including arts and sports as well as social activities and academic programmes, can be good for attainment, well-being and wider relationships.

“We are funding trial schools so that they can provide exciting activities around the school day, which can develop personal skills and resilience which will also impact on academic attainment.

“We will be working closely with schools and local authorities to evaluate the impact on learners and on staff.

“Over the coming months I’ll also be talking to young people, education staff, families and people working beyond the sector such as tourism and public services, to seek their views on reforming the school year.

“Reforming the school year could help to narrow the disruption caused by the long summer holiday on learners, narrow educational inequalities and to support learner and staff well-being.”

Schools across a range of local authorities have volunteered to participate in the trials, including:

• Blaenau Gwent
• Vale of Glamorgan
• Rhondda Cynon Taf
• Neath Port Talbot
• Cardiff

Commenting on news that longer school days trialled in Wales, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Education, Laura Anne Jones MS said: “In principle, Welsh Conservatives welcome the government’s announcement to explore the reforms to the school day.

“Such a plan would help disadvantaged pupils and assist children as they recover from the severe disruptions witnessed in their education during the past two years.

“If the pilot is deemed successful, any wholescale changes will need to be thoroughly communicated and coordinated across the country, as it’s vital ministers take parents, teachers and pupils on this journey.

“We will also need to see a thorough impact assessment carried out to fully understand any potential knock-on effects this would have on different areas of society in Wales from teacher workload to childcare.

“As well as tweaking the school calendar, the Labour Government must retain focus on education itself and ensure fundamental priorities are met, including significant improvements to reading and increasing the funding to pupils and education in Wales so that our young people have the best possible start in life.”