Four day teaching week and later starts for students at St Joseph’s College Geelong proves great success

A Geelong school has rolled out a new “21st century timetable” that allows students to come in late, leave early and have a dedicated day for revision. Could it mean the end of traditional school weeks in Victoria?

St Joseph's College Geelong students are reaping the rewards of a ‘halfway model’ timetable that better reflects what’s offered by universities. Picture: Brad Fleet

A Geelong school has demonstrated four-day teaching weeks, later starts and remote studying can greatly benefit students, following a successful trial that saw its traditional timetable undergo a shake-up.

St Joseph’s College is leading the charge on a new way of learning thanks to its unique asynchronous schedule that enables students to have more flexibility and control over their education.

The new timetable includes four days of teaching and one day dedicated to revision weekly, less time on campus for senior students wanting to study from home and later starts, especially for those who don’t have classes scheduled in the morning.

The school’s timetable change comes amid Queensland schools trialling flexible start and finish times this year, while four-day working weeks continue to be a hot topic up for debate.

After trialling the “21st century timetable”, St Joseph’s College found its students were more engaged, had a better study-life balance and acquired the skill of self-directed learning.

Senior students at St Joseph's College Geelong have an entire weekday in their timetables dedicated to revising content. Picture: Brad Fleet

Principal Tony Paatsch said students, staff and parents have lauded the timetable shake-up, with surveys finding the majority of respondents agreed it provided greater flexibility and productivity.

“Working alongside Sacred Heart College, we implemented a timetable that meets the contemporary and future needs of our students,” he said.

“Once students leave school to attend either university or work, we know their days aren’t like a normal school day … so we wanted to give them a halfway model so they can get used to what it would be like once they graduate”

Under the renewed timetable at the Edmund Rice Education Australia school, students in years seven to 12 have periods varying between 40 and 90 minutes in length depending on the subject, 9am starts and homeroom – also known as Wellbeing – later in the day.

Meanwhile, some senior students are given the option to start later if they don’t have a period one class, and can also leave early to work from home during study breaks granted they have approval.

Year 11 and 12 students don’t have scheduled classes on Monday and Wednesday afternoons, while Wednesdays are also known as “Consolidation Days”, where classes are dedicated to revision, asking teachers for help with previously taught content and self-directed study.

“At first, staff were a bit concerned they weren’t going to get through the course (with Wednesdays just for revision) but that has proven to be a groundless concern as everyone has finished their VCE course,” Mr Paatsch said.

Students at the all-boys school have welcomed the timetable changes, including College Captain Michael Ahearn who said having independent learning blocks on Monday and Wednesday afternoons enabled him to incorporate tutoring and music lessons into his day.

“It has been a positive and seamless transition that has given me flexibility replicating what I believe life would be like after school and at university,” he said.

Meanwhile Year 12 student Nick Anglin said he now has a healthier school-life balance as he can study during school hours opposed to in his own time.

College captain Michael Ahearn says the new timetable has given him greater control over his studies. Picture: Brad Fleet

The timetable change also helped athletes prioritise both their study and sporting commitments, with Year 12 student Lachie Jaques saying it has enabled him to fulfil his elite sport duties.

“The new structure ideally works well for someone who is dedicated and organised,” he said.

When asked whether St Joseph’s would go back to its previous timetable, Mr Paatsch said it would be a “seriously retrograde step”.

“Our experience indicates there have been more positive outcomes across the board after implementing this timetable,” he said. “It’s been really, really effective.”

St Joseph’s College is an independent Catholic School in the inner Geelong suburb of Newtown, with fees starting from $6980 per year.