School week changes 'another headache' for families - Union

An early finish one day a week is being proposed in Dumfries and Galloway

A union has hit out at plans to change the school week in Dumfries and Galloway to finish early on Fridays.

Unison said the move to an four-and-a-half day week would affect work and childcare arrangements for many people like a "sledgehammer".

It said it amounted to "yet another headache" for families to cope with.

Dumfries and Galloway Council said it was looking to modernise education provision for pupils and staff.

Pupils currently have five days of equal length and the proposal would see four slightly longer days with an early finish on one day.

The local authority said a Friday lunchtime finish was now common across Scotland.

However, Unison said the proposals had caused significant concerns among staff, parents and other members of the community.

Dumfries and Galloway branch secretary Jan Andrews said: "The council must recognise that many parents work full-time, five days a week.

"Their working lives are structured around the school day to ensure drop-off and pick-up times and any childcare needs are arranged around school hours."

'Create problems'

She said they could not simply rearrange things to fit around a different school week.

"We would also like to see evidence of these community facilities that are supposed to be available to schoolchildren on the half day they are not at school," she said.

"One or two events in Dumfries are of absolutely no use to pupils in Annan, or Newton Stewart or Castle Douglas or Lockerbie or Stranraer."

"So far as we know, the local police have not been involved in any consultation and there is a real worry that kids with an afternoon off school will create problems and potentially antisocial behaviour."

She said there were also concerns about the effect on support staff who had more than one job and could see an adverse impact.

"There are far too many concerns about this to press ahead," she said.

'Written reassurance'

The council said it was currently undertaking a detailed consultation process into the potential of the move.

It said that aimed to get the views of young people, staff and parents and carers.

A statement said that given this "proactive approach" it was "disappointed" by the union's claims.

"We have given staff written reassurance that there would be no reduction in working hours, reduced income or staffing levels," it said.

"Where there were concerns that people had limited access to email we sent a personal letter to them over the summer holiday to make sure they had the facts and reassurance."