Last week of Queensland state school year labelled ‘supervision week’

Queensland parents are being offered the option of keeping their children at home for the final week of the school year which some have labelled a “supervision week”.

• Full list: SEQ’s worst behaved primary school students

Parents are being given the option to keep their children home for the final week of the school year, admitting no new content will be taught and there will only be skeleton staff.

This Queensland state school year is the longest since 2018 – 41 weeks, not the usual 40 – with an additional week added to Term 4.

Surveys have been sent to parents asking if their children would be attending the final week of the term and advising they were unlikely to have their usual teachers.

One school labelled the week “supervision week”.

Brisbane State High School’s newsletter advised parents that, “No new content will be taught in week 11. Your children may not have their usual teacher or may have a range of teachers in week 11”.

Students at many Queensland schools will take part in “student engagement, cultural and wellbeing activities”. for the final week of the school year.

McDowall State School, which has more than 1000 students, will offer an “alternative program”, with a focus on “student engagement, cultural and wellbeing activities”.

It is understood some schools have advised parents that their children could take holidays after December 6.

However, a Department of Education spokesman said attendance was compulsory and expected through the school year.

“Throughout the year, the department and schools have communicated extensively with students, parents, carers, families and staff regarding week 11 of Term 4 arrangements,” he said.

“The survey referenced is one part of this communication and planning to assist schools and families.”

Queensland Association of State School Principals president Pat Murphy said the department had communicated to schools that they could deliver an alternative program in the final week.

“School leaders and staff will attend school every day this last week, there will be a program of work in place, and the roll will be marked every day”.

Mr Murphy said it has been a “particularly long term” for students.

“When students are tired, they don’t focus as well, their ability to take on new work will not be at the same level as when they are fresh,” he said.

“Alternate programs are certainly curriculum, with a clear focus on student engagement, with the aim to make it attractive for students to attend school after assessment is completed.”

In a statement, the Queensland Teachers Union commended teachers and schools commitment to providing a 41-week program from decisions that were made at a state level.

“The 41-week year is an example of our teachers and school leaders’ willingness to reliably meet the real life situations stemming from decisions made at a state level,” A QTU spokesman said.