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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Buxton Primary School to consult on half-day closing on Fridays | Buxton Primary School to consult on half-day closing on Fridays |
| (2 days later) | |
| Buxton Primary School is consulting parents about closing on Friday afternoons to save money without making staff redundant | Buxton Primary School is consulting parents about closing on Friday afternoons to save money without making staff redundant |
| A primary school is considering closing for one afternoon a week in order to cut costs. | A primary school is considering closing for one afternoon a week in order to cut costs. |
| Buxton Primary School in Norfolk is currently consulting on the proposals, which it said would avoid having to make any staff redundant. | Buxton Primary School in Norfolk is currently consulting on the proposals, which it said would avoid having to make any staff redundant. |
| "Because teachers will do their planning and preparation on a Friday afternoon... [pupils] will have more time with their teachers, getting that high quality education," said head teacher Jules Stops. | "Because teachers will do their planning and preparation on a Friday afternoon... [pupils] will have more time with their teachers, getting that high quality education," said head teacher Jules Stops. |
| Norfolk County Council has questioned whether the move complies with legislation, while the Department for Education (DfE) said it was putting additional funds into pupil premiums. | Norfolk County Council has questioned whether the move complies with legislation, while the Department for Education (DfE) said it was putting additional funds into pupil premiums. |
| Head teacher Jules Stops says children will get more time with their teachers, who will now plan lessons on Friday afternoons | Head teacher Jules Stops says children will get more time with their teachers, who will now plan lessons on Friday afternoons |
| Outlining the proposals, Mrs Stops said: "On Monday to Thursday we will start the day at 08:10 and then finish at 15:05, and on Friday we will start at 08:10 and finish at 13:00. | Outlining the proposals, Mrs Stops said: "On Monday to Thursday we will start the day at 08:10 and then finish at 15:05, and on Friday we will start at 08:10 and finish at 13:00. |
| "The reason we have done that is in order to look at our financial budgets and make sure they're in line with what's required of us as a school, but also to continue to offer our children the education they deserve." | "The reason we have done that is in order to look at our financial budgets and make sure they're in line with what's required of us as a school, but also to continue to offer our children the education they deserve." |
| She said the school was following DfE guidance and all legislation. | She said the school was following DfE guidance and all legislation. |
| "It is supporting our children with their education. They're going to get more contact time with their teachers," she said. | "It is supporting our children with their education. They're going to get more contact time with their teachers," she said. |
| Matt Halliday says the plan could mean asking family and friends for help with childcare | Matt Halliday says the plan could mean asking family and friends for help with childcare |
| Matt Halliday, whose two children attend the school, said it could mean asking friends and family for help, or paying for after-school club on Fridays. | |
| "For our family, it would be very much a case of looking at using grandparents and using support from other people... it could be family friends," he said. | "For our family, it would be very much a case of looking at using grandparents and using support from other people... it could be family friends," he said. |
| "We are lucky to have neighbours who can pick up the kids at that time." | |
| Scott Lyons from the National Education Union says the plan is a reaction to underfunding in schools but could help prevent redundancies or closure | Scott Lyons from the National Education Union says the plan is a reaction to underfunding in schools but could help prevent redundancies or closure |
| Scott Lyons, Norfolk Branch secretary of the National Education Union, said while not ideal, the plan may be the least-worst option. | Scott Lyons, Norfolk Branch secretary of the National Education Union, said while not ideal, the plan may be the least-worst option. |
| He said the alternative might be that the school shuts and parents had to drive their children out of the village to attend school. | He said the alternative might be that the school shuts and parents had to drive their children out of the village to attend school. |
| "Sadly, schools are having to be creative about the ways education may look in the future, and the way pupil numbers are dropping off the cliff in the next four or five years I think a lot of primary schools are looking at this as a potential pilot for the future," he said. | "Sadly, schools are having to be creative about the ways education may look in the future, and the way pupil numbers are dropping off the cliff in the next four or five years I think a lot of primary schools are looking at this as a potential pilot for the future," he said. |
| 'Meaningful learning' | 'Meaningful learning' |
| Norfolk County Council said it was only made aware of the plan as the school broke up for the Easter holidays. | Norfolk County Council said it was only made aware of the plan as the school broke up for the Easter holidays. |
| In a statement, it said: "We will be in contact with Buxton Primary School as soon schools return to discuss it in more detail. | In a statement, it said: "We will be in contact with Buxton Primary School as soon schools return to discuss it in more detail. |
| "The legislation states that schools are required to have two sessions each day, with a break in between, and we are concerned that the length of the afternoon session is not adequate to deliver meaningful learning. | "The legislation states that schools are required to have two sessions each day, with a break in between, and we are concerned that the length of the afternoon session is not adequate to deliver meaningful learning. |
| "We completely understand the financial challenges schools are facing and that this requires some difficult decisions. | "We completely understand the financial challenges schools are facing and that this requires some difficult decisions. |
| "We want to work with Buxton to help ensure they can continue to deliver the best curriculum for their children." | "We want to work with Buxton to help ensure they can continue to deliver the best curriculum for their children." |
| The DfE said it was putting an additional £6.2bn into school budgets and increasing support for those with additional support. | The DfE said it was putting an additional £6.2bn into school budgets and increasing support for those with additional support. |
| "We expect schools to consult parents and ensure their operating hours reflect the needs of their communities," it said. | "We expect schools to consult parents and ensure their operating hours reflect the needs of their communities," it said. |
| "The majority of schools already deliver a 32.5-hour week within their existing budgets and schools should be planning their budgets in line with this minimum expectation." | "The majority of schools already deliver a 32.5-hour week within their existing budgets and schools should be planning their budgets in line with this minimum expectation." |
| Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. | Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. |