Shorter school week trialled at Fife school.

Dunfermline: Education bosses insist the move is not motivated by saving money

A Fife school is to become the first in the region to take the radical step of cutting the school week by half a day, The Courier can reveal.

St Columba’s RC High School in Dunfermline has confirmed it intends to introduce the so-called ‘asymmetrical’ week from August after consultation with parents and families.

The system was introduced in Angus recently with the council offering alternative activities and placements for pupils.

Education chiefs have insisted the move is not money-orientated and will be beneficial to the school curriculum, while stressing there are no immediate plans for a roll-out to other schools.

Unions have expressed reservations and believe it is only a matter of time before other schools, faced with the need to cut costs, consider it.

St Columba’s, which has a school roll of around 850 pupils and includes several west Fife towns and villages in its catchment, has a 30-period week.

From August, a new timetable will operate with 10 minutes each day for registration and 32, 50-minute periods – seven per day from Monday to Thursday and four on a Friday.

Kevin O’Connor, who took up the head teacher post at St Columba’s High in June 2016, said: “In October 2017, St Columba’s embarked on a consultation with an ambition to transform our curriculum and learning experiences and improve our attainment and achievements.

“Through this positive engagement with our school community, we have established a clear curriculum rationale for our future and will introduce a 32-period week from August 2018 to facilitate additional blocks of learning and a more balanced, coherent, personalised and supportive curriculum.

“The 32-period week structure... reflects the specific context and geographical reach of the school.”

The Courier understands the structure was previously considered in Levenmouth but difficulties with altering bus contracts saw it shelved.

It is not yet clear what financial savings will be made by St Columba’s but David Farmer, Fife EIS publicity officer, said: “If St Columba’s is the first school to go down this road, what happens with the rest of them?.

“It’s our experience that once something like this is tried in a school, others try and follow, especially at a time where cuts are needed.”

Mr Farmer added the EIS was seeking further clarity on the process used in this instance, given the fact previous attempts had been refused.

A spokesman for Fife Council said there were no plans for any other of the region’s schools to implement a four-and-a-half day week.

It’s our experience that once something like this is tried in a school, others try and follow, especially at a time where cuts are needed. DAVID FARMER

Picture: Kenny Smith. The school will be the first in Fife to operate a four-and-a-half-day week.