Tel: 07590219746 - www.mistservices.co.uk
On the surface this seems a relatively simple task but there can be several
hidden consequences and pose management challenges and also exercise the
mind and skills of the timetabler. These changes would normally be made
for the start of an academic year but this is not always the case. In the
example given below a new head started in the school in September. By half
term it had been realised that the structure of the school day was giving
rise to problems and the way the curriculum had been constructed was not
conducive to raising achievement. The decision was taken to re-design the
curriculum and re-schedule the whole of the timetable for a January re-launch.
The school was running on a 30 period single week cycle with each period
lasting 50 minutes. The plan was to go for 25 periods each of 60 minutes.
This would reduce the number of movements around the school and reduce the
need for supervision. A nurture group was to be introduced in Y7, an option
group to be introduced in Y9 and setting in for English and Maths introduced
in years 9 & 10. These changes should increase opportunity for many students
and raise achievement in core subjects. These things had been pointed out
by Ofsted as needing to be addressed.
The Headteacher was quite prepared to accept that in order to gain the benefits
that are needed there could well be short term pain and difficult decisions
to be made. The re-structuring of Y10 serves to illustrate some of the difficulties
that present when undertaking an exercise such as this.
Re-structuring of Y10
There are 188 learners in Y10 and they are divided into 3 pathways by ability.
Option A is available to Pathway 1 and Pathway 3 learners and was allocated
3 periods a week (2.5 hours). Option B is only available to Pathway 1 learners
and was allocated 3 periods. Option C was available to all and Option D
to just Pathway 2 and 3. Both option C and D were allocated 6 periods (3
hours). The allocation of time for the other subjects is shown in the table.
You can see from the table that in the revised week English, Maths and Science
all gain time- they move from 3 hours 20 minutes to 4 hours per week. This
is in line with wanting to put more time into core subjects. Although the
school has Specialist Sports status the time allocated to PE will be reduced
by 30 minutes per week in this model.
Options C and D will remain time neutral. These options contain most of
the vocational options and are linked to the local college. Options A and
B will be reduced from 2.5 to 2 hours per week. However, for Pathway 3 option
A is going to be removed completely.
There is a tradition in the school that all students get a qualification
in IT and hence up until now this has been a compulsory subject. In the
new model Pathway 1 learners will have a reduction of 40 minutes per week
whilst Pathway 3 learners will increase by 10 minutes. However, Pathway
2 learners will have no time allocated for IT. To make up for this loss
an intensive course will be provided for them towards the end of the summer
term when the college courses finish.
Clearly this is a very bold move and it would not be considered unless there
was an overwhelming need identified. The timetabler faces a huge task, learners
and parents have to be consulted where options are being removed and there
is a huge job to re-compile all the associated teaching groups to reflect
changes in choices and setting by ability of learners.
Do you feel the need to re-visit your school day?
If you feel that your school maybe looking at re-designing the school day
for transport, breaktime or raising attainment reasons and would like to
discuss anything further please contact MIST Services. MIST Services works
with many schools, colleges and Academies each academic year, ultimately
being exposed to literally hundreds of curriculums and timetabling problems.
Tel: 07590219746 - www.mistservices.co.uk