School hours face major change for first time in decades

School times could soon be overhauled in a major change for parents and students.

The long standing 9am-3pm school day could be in for a change soon, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet revealed Monday.

Suggesting the hours were out of date and out of step with modern life, Mr Perrottet revealed trials were already underway in some schools to see which hours could work better.

“The school hours of nine till three, that was set up at a very different time in life … the world in the 1950s is very different from the world we live in today,” he said.

“We as a government will be looking always at better ways of doing things, of thinking outside the box and striking new directions moving forward.”

The Premier said he is ready for an overhaul of school hours despite the challenges. Picture: Gaye Gerard / NCA Newswire

Last year, primary schools were given the discretion to stagger their learning times amid major disruptions caused by Covid-19.

The Premier says trials are being conducted at several NSW schools to evaluate varied learning times, although any changes to the system would come with challenges.

Alternatives include a 7am to 1pm day, or extended after-school care.

“When something’s been the same way for so long, decades upon decades … you can’t just overturn that overnight,” Mr Perrottet said.

“You‘ve got so many elements; when you change the school hours you have to change the transport hours as well. It’s not going to be a one size fits all policy.

School hours have remained largely unchanged since the 1950s. Picture: Dean Martin

The announcement coincided with the launch of a Women’s Economic Opportunity Review Panel by the NSW Government.

Its aim is to find new ways to increase women’s participation in the workforce.

Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor said current school hours were a disruption for many women looking to hold down a job.

“When you talk to women, they’ll often talk about the hard cut off at three o’clock. We need to look at different opportunities to make sure they can thrive,” Ms Taylor said.

Mr Perrottet was keen to take on the challenge of reforming school hours despite the difficulties in doing so.

“I want revolutionary ideas that trail blaze a new approach in our state,” he said.