The failing primary that asks pupils to stay till 6pm

ONE of the worst-performing primary schools in the country has introduced a 45-hour week for pupils in an effort to transform results.

Children can stay from 8.55am until 6pm – longer than the standard working week.

They enjoy a free programme of after- school activities ranging from riding to cookery, followed by supervised time to complete their homework and read.

Greenacre Primary in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, was among the bottom 200 performers out of 15,000 primaries nationally and was condemned by inspectors as failing in 2010.

In September it became a semiindependent academy sponsored by millionaire businessman Theodore Agnew, and renamed Great Yarmouth Primary Academy.

At first parents were horrified by the changes, and 100 signed a protest petition.

But headmaster Bill Holledge says the extended week – compared with a typical state primary’s 35 hours – is leading to ‘real improvement’ after just a term.

Pupils are able to attend a free breakfast club from 7.45am. The school day runs from 8.55am to

‘Tremendous success’

3.30pm but those aged seven to 11 may stay on for free activities which include riding, cookery, cello, first aid, street dance and rocket engineering.

At 5pm, youngsters in the final two years of the school, aged nine to 11, spend a further hour doing homework or practising reading under supervision from teaching assistants, who are paid extra.

The aim is to give pupils the same opportunities as those from more advantaged backgrounds.

It also helps working parents by allowing them to collect their children at 6pm instead of 3.30pm.

Mr Holledge said pupils had embraced the scheme.

‘It’s been really positive. The vast majority of the pupils are staying and benefiting from the activities,’ he said.

‘The study time has been tremendously successful and we’re seeing real improvement in the pupils’ attainment.

‘To start with it felt like a scary adventure, but now it’s what we do and parents have been very supportive.’