All your questions answered: Qld school plan for four-day weeks, shorter days

Queensland schools could soon have four-day weeks and shorter days under a state government plan – but how would it work? WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Queensland schools could soon have four-day weeks and shorter days under a state government plan – but how would it work?

These are all your key questions answered >>>

When would the plan start?

The radical shake-up – effective from the first day of term in 2024 – was circulated to all public school principals on Monday and sets out the process for introducing flexible hours, such as trials and extensive consultation with the school community.

Why are they doing this?

The Department of Education released a blueprint for schools to change class times and shorten the school week for reasons including teacher availability, or student and staff “wellbeing and engagement”.

Minister for Education Grace Grace said the updated policies and procedures were to enable alternative schedules in schools with consistent and significant checks and balances.

Ms Grace acknowledged teacher shortages were a driving factor for the changes to allow students flexibility to engage in extra-curricular activities.

The policy takes effect if schools want to change their start or finish time by more than 30 minutes, and can apply to all students or only specific year levels or cohorts.

Meanwhile it was revealed more than a fifth of Queensland state school staff lack overall support, have poor staff morale, and don’t have enough help to manage their workloads, according to the latest statewide survey.

What happens if my child can’t stay at home some days?

The new policy stresses that principals must ensure supervision is provided for any students who, due to transport constraints or family issues, are at school before the scheduled day starts, after the day ends, or on a day where attendance is not required.

What has been the reaction to the plan?

Queensland Secondary Principals Association president Mark Breckenridge said principals had recently received the blueprint and there had been “no concerns raised … at this point”.

Speaking on ABC on Thursday, Minister for Education Grace Grace defended her compressed school schedule blueprint saying it would still ensure the safety of younger students.

However many online readers were against the plan, with more than 70 per cent voting “No” to the flexible week proposal.

Meanwhile it was revealed more than a fifth of Queensland state school staff lack overall support, have poor staff morale, and don’t have enough help to manage their workloads, according to the latest statewide survey.

QACI Kelvin Grove will be next to trial flexible schedules.

How much will a school week need to change for it to fall under this new policy?

The new policy applies if:

● The current school hours are to be altered by more than 30 minutes – the day is to commence before 8.30am or after 9.30am, or finish before 2.00pm or after 3.30pm.

● The number of school days per week/fortnight are to be changed – for example switching to a four-day teaching week.

Reasons for changing school hours could include:

● The availability of resources and facilities – for example specialist staff, science laboratories, library, playground/ovals.

● School community need

● Student and staff wellbeing and engagement

Will any changes affect every student or can it be tailored to certain student cohorts?

Changes may be applied to:

● All students

● Students in specific year levels

● Students in certain subject areas or undertaking certain programs

Students and schools are likely to have more flexible arrangements.

Which schools will take part?

The Queensland Academies Creative Industries Campus, located within QUT Kelvin Grove, is the latest school to flag a potential four-day week trial for next year.

Corinda State High School also put a similar proposal to its community recently.

Several schools in South East Queensland have already implemented shortened or flexible school weeks.

The Gap State High School also started a shortened week from Term 1 2023, with school now finishing at 1.50pm on Monday. Students can either go home or stay on campus and study independently on Monday afternoons.

The school trialled it last year, with the theory being that it gives teachers extra time to prepare detailed lesson plans and therefore help improve student results.

Gold Coast independent public school Miami State High School allows Year 8-12 students to finish at 1:15pm on Monday.

In addition, Fortitude Valley State Secondary College – which only opened in 2020 – has deliberate late starts due to traffic concerns, being an inner-city campus.

They start at 9.30am four days, and 9.05am on Wednesdays. They finish at 3.25pm daily.

Students at Varsity College’s secondary campus on the Gold Coast finish at 12.45pm every Friday, with the pupils given the option of going home or being free to study on school grounds.

Palm Beach Currumbin State High School has a similar policy on Mondays.

Meanwhile, Mountain Creek State High School on the Sunshine Coast operates a “split shift” timetable, where year 10-12 students start their day at 7.30am and finish at 12.55pm, while year 7-9 students arrive at 10.25am and go through to 4.05pm.