Governors say yes to longer school day

From September next year pupils will stay at school until 5pm but no longer struggle out with bagfuls of books because they will have no homework.

This has been a fiercely debated issue in recent months among concerned parents and Bexhill High principal Mike Conn admits he has been surprised by some of their reaction.

There are a number of issues which the governors have flagged up as needing to be addressed and this will be a priority according to Mr Conn.

These are travel arrangements, student fatigue, impact on family life, and parents' desire to be involved with their children's homework.

A group will be formed to address the issue of travel and answer parents' worries about transport in the late afternoon, particularly in winter when children will come out of school in the dark.

Pupils are to be guaranteed breaktimes during their new routine of three hour sessions; these will no longer be at fixed times, but to be taken when suitable for the activity undertaken.

Mike said: "Any reduction in family life seems to be a concern and a threat...so I have agreed that the school will be open from 8.30-5pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and on Friday we will finish at 2.30 to enable children and parents to have a longer weekend, but the school will remain open for those who don not want to take part."

He reassured parents who want to be involved in learning outside school hours that they can do so by reading with their children, or by looking through their school work.

"I encourage parents to take part in learning with their children," he told the Observer this week.

There were other concerns which he is eager to tackle, such as how pupils will continue to attend clubs and activities outside school, and how local organisations and groups might be affected by children staying longer at school, and might have to adjust their times.

Mike said he has been "surprised" at reaction to the proposal considering it has been under discussion since plans for the future school would made public two years ago.

"The letters of support were quite incredible in their recognition of the wonderful opportunities and facilities for children in this new model. So I was a bit taken aback.

"But there has been criticism of a lack of communication, so I have to accept that...We will now endeavour to put even more information out. All I ask of people is to read what we put out and get involved.

"I see this as now we have got over a hurdle. It has been a useful exercise in making sure we encourage all the shareholders, not just parents, to be involved.

"There is a degree now of compromise in recognition of aspects to do with family life, and absolute determination to get the travel right. I now urge everybody to come on board with us to make this exciting school of the future work to full advantage of our young people - and not just this generation."