Extended school hours: NSW trial enlivens push for SA to follow suit

The 9am to 3pm school day is set to be overhauled in NSW, with SA poised to follow suit. So how could we do it?

Flexible school hours could be on the cards for South Australian children if the state government’s education overhaul charges ahead.

In February, Labor promised a $1 million Royal Commission to revamp the school day, saying the 9am-3pm structure was incompatible with the modern work-life juggle many working parents grapple with.

Then-opposition leader Peter Malinauskas said the inquiry would look into universal preschool for three and four-year-olds, extending support services and increased access to out of school care or alternate school hours.

Education Minister Blair Boyer told The Advertiser that the government remained committed to establishing a Royal Commission, with flexible school hours on the cards.

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Parents could be offered greater flexibility under a revised school hours scheme.

“It’s important that all families can have access to out of school hours care at both preschool and primary school ages, including considerations of accessibility in all parts of SA, affordability, and quality in public and non-government schools,” Mr Boyer said.

The NSW government announced today that it would be trialling extended hours across eight schools, with options for earlier starts or later finishes at the school’s discretion.

Eight NSW schools will be trialling the school hours extension.

This could mean school-based out-of-hours activities or separate cohorts – such as a 7am to 1pm block.

But NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the trial would not alter teaching hours, with schools instead engaging local organisations and sporting clubs for before and after-hours activities.

Education Union SA Branch President Andrew Gohl said while the industrial ramifications of extended hours remained to be seen, it was likely the workforce would need to be bolstered.

“We’re open to looking at any suggestions along these lines, but the bottom line of keeping sites open for longer ultimately means additional staff would be required,” Gohl said.

“It would create a long day (for teachers) and it’s not reasonable to assume that a single staff member would be present at the school for an entire working day.”

“Even without Covid, there are schools that already have trouble filling vacancies.”