Timetable changes in north schools

SIR, – The timetables of Highland schools changed on Monday. School days now start earlier, finish later, all combined with shorter breaks. The benefit of this reshuffle? Very little it seems.

One aspect of the new timetables means school finishes at lunchtime on Fridays. Were they hoping to see this as an afternoon for sport and other activities? In universities, and schools in the private sector, Wednesday afternoons are free for students to use for sports and to undertake extra-curricular pursuits. I am adamant Highland Council’s choice will not result in many young people doing sports and other activities on Fridays. Anyone who has been in a school five minutes after the last bell of the week knows, most people (teachers and students) have already left the building.

Another result of the change is that lunchtime clubs and societies will not be as readily available to Highland children. Pupils are only to be given 45 minutes for their break, and as my younger brother still in school tells me, it is “too short to even get lunch sometimes”. With young Highland people often not receiving the same opportunities as their central belt peers, is this move not going to merely exaggerate that problem?

In a time where we are seeing ever more concerning reports of childhood obesity and a lack of youth uptake in exercise, why would Highland Council enact changes to our school system that will only compound this issue? Fergus MacKenzie, Crown Drive, Inverness

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