‘Future of learning’: NSW school permanently adopts four-day school week

The school’s principal said the initiative “represents a vital step in preparing our students for the challenges and opportunities of this rapidly changing world”. 

A secondary school in NSW is permanently adopting a four-day school week following a successful trial of “flipped learning”. 

Chevalier College, a Catholic school in NSW’s Southern Highlands, confirmed it would allow some senior students the opportunity to complete their lessons at home once a week.

As part of its Future Facing program, all students will have self-directed learning on Mondays. 

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Chevalier College is permanently adopting a four-day face-to-face learning week for some of its senior students. Picture: chevaliercollegeofficial/Instagram

NSW permanently adopts four-day face-to-face learning

As confirmed by 9News, the secondary school will give some students in Years 10, 11 and 12 access to learn remotely one day per week.

The four-day face-to-face school week comes months after the Catholic school concluded the trial phase of its 'Best Use of Time, Flipped Monday' initiative. 

RELATED: Mixed response to four-day school week

“After thoughtful consideration, the Board endorses its integration as a permanent feature of Chevalier College’s ‘Future Facing’ educational strategy,’ the school said in a statement. 

The move will not be available to every student in the school; only students who meet certain criteria will be eligible for the initiative. 

Year 10, 11 and 12 students who passed the three-to-four-hour “micro-credentials test”, a workshop and final assessment were eligible to take part in remote learning. 

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On the day students are learning remotely, their work will be “set and facilitated by a teacher”, principal Greg Miller told 7News. 

Mr Miller stressed the initiative was not a "four-day week", explaining the day of remote learning can help students “consolidate their learning from the previous week” and “plan for the week ahead”. 

“The integration of Future Facing initiatives, including the 'Best Use of Time, Flipped Monday' program, represents a vital step in preparing our students for the challenges and opportunities of this rapidly changing world,” he said. 

RELATED: Parents fight back at school's controversial timetable plan

Principal Greg Miller backed the move. Picture: Chevalier College

Mixed feedback from parents

The “Best Use of Time, Flipped Monday” trial ran from February to July this year, guided by Dr Phil Cummins; the school reported numerous benefits following the trial phase, including better time management, flexibility and high task completion.  

According to a report from the school, some parents said they were “pleased” with the outcome of the trial. 

However, other parents raised concerns about potentially letting younger students have self-regulated learning.

“I really love the idea of future-facing learning and being independent,” a parent said, per 9News. “It's fantastic. I just don't think it's great for the younger years or those with special needs.” 

Providing feedback to the school, another parent said their son found the remote learning initiative “boring” and isn’t “enthusiastic” about the flexible program. “Though [he] does manage the workload,’ they said. 

In response, Chevalier College announced it would make its Year 7 students complete an induction program about flexible learning; all junior students will take part in time management and self-regulated learning training sessions. 

Originally published as ‘Future of learning’: NSW school permanently adopts four-day school week