PARENTS, pupils, carers and families are being given the chance to have their say on proposals to change the school week in Dumfries and Galloway.
The council are consulting on plans to change the structure of the school week, so that there are four slightly longer days and one day that finishes at lunchtime.
Officials say it’s already happening in other parts of Scotland and “has the potential to improve the education, wellbeing and outcomes for our children and young people”.
They were slammed by councillors earlier this year for previous consultations not being wide reaching enough and for a lack of awareness locally about the proposals.
So they are doing it all over again with questionnaires and community drop in sessions.
Views will be gathered up until October 11 and then the feedback will be reported to councillors in November.
After that it will be up to the elected members to decide whether to proceed with the changes.
Public drop in events are planned at Lockerbie Academy on Tuesday September 24 and Moffat Academy on Thursday September 26. Both will run from 4.30 pm to 7 pm.
A dedicated webpage has been launched on the council’s website and features a list of frequently asked questions and answers.
As part of it, the main benefits of such a transformation are listed as: improved wellbeing, improved recruitment, increased extracurricular opportunities, comprehensive senior phase curriculum with work experience and apprenticeships, and more opportunities for community volunteering.
It’s stressed there will be no reduction in the amount of time teachers have to teach the curriculum and that there are also hopes of offering activities for all ages on the half day.
