Uproar as school makes shorter day permanent
PARENTS SAY CONSULTATION WAS ‘BURIED’ IN NEWSLETTER
AN east Hull primary school has chosen to make temporary reduced hours they were operating during Covid a permanent change, despite objections from parents.
A petition was set up objecting to Gillshill Primary School’s proposal to finish the school day at 3pm every day - and reducing lunchtimes and getting rid of afternoon breaks.
A parent whose child is at the school said the changes make it hard for working parents, and said one parent had already lost their job as their employer refused to negotiate them leaving earlier to pick up their child.
They also claimed the online consultation link was “buried” in a school newsletter and the majority of parents didn’t know anything about it and therefore did not respond.
The decision was made at a meeting last night, with the backing of the Horizon Academy Trust, which the school is now part of.
The parent, who did not want to be identified, said: “Their dinner time has been reduced, and I am not happy about not having an afternoon break. I’ve heard of other school making the school days longer to catch up after Covid, not shortening them.
“I am also not pleased that their time for social interaction in the afternoon has now been dropped, they need that interaction after being at home for a year.
“This news was buried in a newsletter and I know for a fact that the majority of parents didn’t see it until the consultation date was over, and now it’s too late.”
A spokesman for the school said the new hours bring the school in line with other schools in the trust.
They said scrapping the afternoon break was having a positive impact on learning and behaviour as the children were not being disrupted by going outdoors in the afternoon.
The school spokesman said teachers had worked “incredibly hard” all through the pandemic, and some parents had been in favour of the changes as it meant their children would be home before it was dark in the winter.
In a statement, the school said: “In newsletters number 45 on July 19 and July 23 respectively, we wrote to consult with parents and carers in order to seek their views on changes that the schools were proposing to changing the timing of the school day.
“During August, a further reminder to reply to the consultation was sent by the school electronic communication system.
“The consultation periods ended on August 6, however, any responses sent to the designated school emails up to September 9 at noon were included in the documentation presented to the Local Governing Bodies.
“The Gillshill governing body carefully reviewed all the responses from staff, parents and the local community and were in agreement and supportive of school leaders. It was therefore resolved that the change should go ahead.
“This decision was presented to Horizon Multi Academy Trust Board for ratification on October 21.”