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A secondary school is hoping to become "the best locally" after unveiling a plan to allow pupils to cut their school day in half one day each week.
Herne Bay High has announced that from September pupils will be able to head home at 12.50pm every Wednesday.
But parents can also choose for their children to stay until 1.30pm for lunch or have them take part in a supervised study session ending at 3pm.
Herne Bay High School head teacher Jon Boyes explains the move
Head teacher Jon Boyes believes this will give teachers more time to prepare lessons and events, like parents’ evenings, and take part in training.
“We’ve got aspirations to become an outstanding school and provide the best education of any school locally,” he said.
“I’m aware of many schools that do have a slightly altered curriculum day to give opportunities for staff development and preparation, and it’s helped.
“This year we’ve been running things like parents’ evenings and open evenings on Wednesdays and so it means we won’t have to disrupt the school day for them.”
On every other day of the week lessons will last 50 and 55 minutes, as opposed to 45 minutes on Wednesdays, and pupils will be dismissed at about 3.25pm.
Last year, St Anselm’s School in Canterbury announced one day every week will finish an hour earlier, at 2.30pm, in order to cut costs.
However, Mr Boyes insists Herne Bay High’s decision was not financially driven.
“I know there are numerous schools that have done early finishes for cost-saving reasons, but it’s got nothing to do with that at all – it makes no difference to our funds,” he said.
“It has no impact on the amount of taught lessons – in fact we’re increasing it by 25 minutes per week.”
But some are concerned about the changes.
Commenting on the school’s Facebook page, Barbara Waller said: “Were there any parent consultations about these changes because I don't remember seeing anything? It would have been good to gauge the parents’ opinions on this.”
Mim Barrett added: “It would have been nice to be notified before choices for schools were made for potential Year 7 and Year 12s.”
Herne Bay High has also revealed it will introduce a two-week timetable at the start of the next academic year.
“You can’t just teach a student English, maths and science all day every day – education is much wider than that,” Mr Boyes added.
"The two-week timetable will help us balance the curriculum much more. There will be a slightly higher proportion of sport on the curriculum next year and we’re bringing back PSHRE.
“Many schools are cutting back on the creative arts timetables, sports and post-16 courses, but I want to go against this trend and continue to expand them.”
