With the new workload agreement from September some schools are faced with closing at lunch time on Friday's. Under this agreement teachers are allowed an half day a week away from the class to prepare lessons etc. Apparently many schools cannot afford cover for the 1/2 days that teachers will be entitled to and may need to close at lunchtime on Friday's.

Do you agree that Teachers should get this extra half day way from the classroom?

Schools in Scotland have had half day on Friday's for years. Even when I was a kid at high school we had a half day on a Wednesday, which eventually changed to a Friday to fall in line with most other school's.

I guess we are used to it here. I would imagine it would annoy a lot of people that are gonna have to find additional childcare etc. There seems to be so many in-service days now for staff to prepare/organise lessons. They never needed it before - do they need it now? I'm not a teacher, I don't know. If the kids benefit then obviously it's a good thing.

The 10% of time away from the class (PPA time) is very necessary for teachers to maintain a decent work / life balance. Most teachers are actually only contracted to work 32.5 hours per week. In reality, when planning, preparation and assessment is included, most teachers work a minimum of 50 hours a week.
In the next school year (2005 / 2006), schools will receive additional funding in order to cover this PPA time. Therefore there should be no need for schools to close early.

Poor old teachers suffering again, I dont know how they put up with it all. More holidays than Billy Butlin and then all this to put up with. If I was a teacher I wouldnt stand for it.

Originally posted by cobaltblue
Schools in Scotland have had half day on Friday's for years. Even when I was a kid at high school we had a half day on a Wednesday, which eventually changed to a Friday to fall in line with most other school's.

:confused: i went to school in scotland and i never got a half day and my cousins do not get a half day.. might be different areas do it,

[QUOTE] Poor old teachers suffering again, I dont know how they put up with it all. More holidays than Billy Butlin and then all this to put up with. If I was a teacher I wouldnt stand for it.[QUOTE]

i know someone who is a teacher and although she does get loads of holidays a year most of theses are actually spent preparing next terms work. Theamount of time she has to spend preparing work and marking work outside class time is ridiculous, this would be a lot easier for her if the class sizes were slightly smaller.

Originally posted by savbaby
:confused: i went to school in scotland and i never got a half day and my cousins do not get a half day.. might be different areas do it,


Must be Savbaby, as far as I know Edinburgh and Lothians have done it since mid 80s, Strathclyde too (I think).

i went to schol in glasgow so i think they must be trying to keep the kids off the streets:rant: so it must be an area thing:thumbsup:

Originally posted by savbaby
i went to schol in glasgow so i think they must be trying to keep the kids off the streets:rant: so it must be an area thing:thumbsup:

LOL Savbaby :D