The Epiphany School in Bournemouth to reduce Friday hours

The Epiphany School in Bournemouth is proposing that pupils finish at 1.30pm on a Friday, rather than the current time of 3.15pm.

It comes the school anticipates a cut of more than 1.5 per cent to its budget next year.

In a letter to parents, headteacher Vanessa Webster said this would have "major consequences" for the school as one of the "lowest funded" in BCP.

She added that the school had to consider possible changes to "avoid entering into a deficit budget", and that changing hours was “the most viable”.

Under the proposal, pupils would also finish 15 minutes later Monday to Thursday, to provide the 32.5 hours of contact time per week in line with DfE guidance.

Only ‘looked after’ children, or those with pupil premium, an education health and care plan, special guardianship, or ‘key worker’ parents, will be able to attend on Friday afternoons.

Ms Webster explained in her letter that class teachers get a percentage of time for planning, preparation and assessment (PPA) a week, but can lose it if called in to cover staff absences.

She said that supply teaching agencies are used to cover lost PPA time, and this is a "substantial cost". 

However, under the new plans, the class teachers would have time on Friday for PPA, thus reducing the need for supply teachers through the week. 

The Epiphany School (Image: NQ)

A parent with children at The Epiphany School warned the changes could be challenging for working parents, and could “disadvantage” pupils.

She said: “One of the worries is that the Friday morning will become really unproductive, because if they know they’re going home in the afternoon, it could become a bit of a jolly.

“So, I think the concern is that you’re not just losing the two hours, but actually quite a bit of productive time.”

Discussing the longer days proposed throughout the rest of the week, the parent said: “Some of the children have only just turned four, and they’re going to be doing 8.35am to 3.30pm – that’s a really long day and it’s going to be exhausting for them.

“That’s like a senior school day. It’s crazy.”

She added: “I think all the parents are disappointed really. We’re all very supportive and want the best things for the school and our kids, but it doesn’t feel right.

“I do think it’s worth fighting for our kids and their education.”

The Epiphany School, which had 423 pupils at the time of an Ofsted inspection in November last year, said it will “carefully consider” parents views on the proposals.

A consultation is currently being held, and will run until April 19.

If given the go ahead, the changes would be implemented in the final half term of summer 2024.

The Daily Echo has contacted The Epiphany School for a comment but it had not responded at the time of going to press.