CONTROVERSIAL plans to cut the school week to 4.5 days are set to be shelved.
Following a consultation in which 15,409 people participated, education officials have decided it’s not the best way forward after all.
And at next week’s education committee they will formally recommend dropping the idea, which councillors are expected to follow.
Many parents locally have been up in arms about the proposal, raising concerns about childcare, transport and the impact on families.
Results of the council’s own consultation showed that just 32 per cent of those who took part agreed with the plans, while 53 per cent disagreed and 16 per cent were unsure.
When it came to parents/carers, 54 per cent were against and 17 per cent unsure, with 60 per cent saying the changes would be problematic for them and 64 per cent reporting that restructuring the week would impact working families.
However, pupils were more in favour and school staff backed the move in higher numbers, with 43 per cent showing their support.
Officials had argued it was an opportunity to increase subject choice in secondary schools and that it would help with teacher recruitment locally.
They also said it would lead to improved wellbeing for young people and staff and an increase in extracurricular activities.
But opponents cited a lack of available and unaffordable childcare in the area; insufficient provision of clubs and activities on the shorter day; longer days for primary pupils; and a disproportionately adverse impact on poorer families and vulnerable youngsters.
A report on the matter has been drawn up for councillors to consider. It says: “There has been significant response from all stakeholders from this consultation programme. In total, there were 16,152 interactions, including 535 attendees at the community drop-in sessions and 210 participants in focus groups.
“It was important to undertake a comprehensive consultation on this matter to establish the views of stakeholders. The level of engagement demonstrates that this is not an easy decision, and that people have strong views.
“It is notable that the strength of feeling among those opposed to the proposals was often greater than the strength of feeling of those in favour of the proposals.”
It went on: “Given the number of themes which highlighted concerns, officers therefore recommend to members that the current structure of the school week for primary and secondary schools in Dumfries and Galloway is maintained.
“Officers will work with headteachers of secondary schools to move to a timetable structure in order to allow all our learners to have the widest course choice possible.”
The decision has been welcomed by the EIS union, with Dumfries and Galloway spokesman Andrew O’Halloran saying: “There were too many unanswered questions for the proposals to have been rolled out across the authority.
“The council were unable to provide us with clarity about the impact of the proposals on primary pupils and those living in rural areas, as well as online delivery and teachers’ terms and conditions of service.”
Meanwhile, South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has urged the council to now focus attention on expanding subject choice.
He said: “The more questions parents and teachers asked about the proposals for a four and half day school week, the more it became clear that there weren’t answers to even basic concerns.
“The plans hadn’t been thought through.
“I hope we see attention turned to the attainment challenges our schools face and reversing the cuts in subject choice too many students face across our region within the current five day week.”
