School to finish early for staff training

Newman College: shorter school day on Wednesdays for staff training

NEWMAN College pupils are set to finish early on Wednesdays from September.

Lessons will end at 1.40pm rather than 3.15pm - to allow for staff training to help raise standards.

Extracurricular activities will be provided for pupils until 3.15pm and the Chadderton secondary school is working with bus companies to revise their services for those able to go home at the new time.

Consultation has been held with parents about the move which is backed by the governing body, the diocese and the local authority. Head teacher Mike McGhee said though the response from parents was initially mixed, many of their concerns had been met.

The Catholic school was rated as requiring improvement in its last Ofsted inspection in 2014, but a recent unofficial inspection raised it to “good”.

Mr McGhee has spoken to other local head teachers who had made similar timetable changes about the benefits.

He said: “The one thing that makes the biggest difference to school performance, children’s outcomes and children’s opportunities is teaching. One of the biggest problems all schools face is to create space in the week in which teachers can work on professional development.”

The change will mean pupils have five 50-minute lessons on Wednesdays, rather than five 60-minute lessons. The governors will make the final decision on its introduction on March 17.