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HEAD TEACHERS’ union NAHT Cymru warned of a lack of evidence to support a longer school day today, as a pilot scheme on more hours begins in Wales.
The trial, set to involve 1,800 pupils over 10 weeks, will see 13 primary and secondary schools, as well as one college, add an extra five hours a week to timetables.
The additional class time, which will prioritise extracurricular activities such as art, music and sport, will guarantee pupils more “creative learning,” the Labour-run Welsh government has said.
But NAHT Cymru raised concerns about the potential extra workload on staff.
The union’s Laura Doel said: “There may be some educational benefits and we are open to discussions on what those may be.
“Schools are not childcare providers and our profession of dedicated school leaders, teachers and support staff should not be expected to take on additional work and responsibility.
“We urge the Welsh government to be honest and clear about the motivation behind reforming the school day.”
