Scotch College timetable ‘tweak’ to keep overworked teachers happy

One of Melbourne’s most expensive private schools is slashing class time for students so that teachers can spend more time completing training sessions during school hours.

Students will get less class time at Scotch College to appease overworked teachers. Picture: Julian Smith

One of Melbourne’s most expensive private schools is giving students even less time in the classroom in a bid to appease overworked teachers, the Herald Sun can reveal.

Scotch College’s principal Scott Marsh has written to parents advising them of a timetable “tweak” that will see classes for all students finish early on Thursday afternoons.

In addition, Wednesday afternoon after-school sport and activities would be moved into the school day to alleviate the after-hour workloads of teachers.

Scotch College, which charges more than $40,000 a year for year 12 tuition, already has around three weeks a year less teaching time than state schools.

Scotch College principal Dr Scott Marsh told parents the changes allow more time for teacher professional learning.

A range of other private schools, which pay educators up to $50,000 more than state schools, are implementing similar measures amid a growing teaching shortage.

Glen Iris girls’ school Korowa is giving full-time senior school teachers four periods off once a fortnight.

Teachers from the school, which charges up to $37,000 a year in fees, do not have to be at work during these times.

A number of Catholic schools, such as St Bede’s College in Mentone, already have early dismissal days, with classes ending at 2pm every second Wednesday to allow for “teacher collaborative learning”.

Korowa teachers are given four periods off each fortnight. Picture: Ian Currie

Dr Marsh told Scotch College parents the changes, which have been planned for more than nine months, will allow more time for teacher professional learning, help attract and retain staff and create more time for teacher collaboration.

“We are presently modelling several options in order to address these desired outcomes including finishing school earlier for all boys P-12 on Thursday afternoons,” he wrote to parents on Thursday.

“By finishing earlier, we would be seeking to utilise the afternoons for teacher training. “Obviously we are working through what this means for families and how we might provide support or other programs, particularly for our younger boys as a result of this earlier finish.

“We are also exploring the potential for moving the Year 7-12 Wednesday after school program into the timetable,” he said.

The exact time classes would finish on Thursdays has not been decided.

One parent told the Herald Sun that she wondered if “teachers are getting so caught up in their own importance they’ve forgotten what they’re actually there to do?”

“I recognise that teachers in private schools, in particular, have a lot on their plates. But do they really need to learn new ways to teach?”

Another asked if there would be a “10 per cent rebate on fees?”