PARENTS AND councillors claim a new timetable at Uppermill School is causing problems and leading to extra costs for families.
The school altered its timetable in September, ending lessons at 3.30pm each day but at 1pm on Wednesdays.
Pupils are offered a range of extra-curricular activities to fill Wednesday afternoon while staff use time to improve their teaching.
The change originally left governors at loggerheads with transport chiefs as some children who did not take part in sessions were stranded in Uppermill for up to 90 minutes.
And David Cockburn, from Grasscroft, who has two daughters at the school, said parents are also unhappy with extra costs created by the changes.
He said: “ A small number are free but many are very expensive – up to £30 per session.
“Many parents do not welcome this unnecessary additional expense. They want the school hours reverted to how they were – and it appears many villagers do too.
“The premise seemed to be plans were going ahead, rather than asking if parents agreed to them. A lot of parents disagree with the changes.”
And some councillors at Saddleworth and Lees District Partnership meeting also raised concerns over the changes.
Graham Sheldon said: “It’s absolutely deplorable pupils are thrown out at lunchtime on a Wednesday.
“Children can become intimidating when they are in large groups wandering around the village. I would urge the school the reverse the decision.”
John McCann added: “It was a major error on the school’s part that everything was not in the place from week one.”
But school headmaster Matthew Milburn said transport issues on Wednesdays have been resolved by the addition of two 184 double deckers and a 350 double decker.
And he insisted the activities on Wednesdays, which include swimming, drama, choir, sports and a study club, offer crucial and exciting opportunities to help pupils flourish.
The Satellite Youth Centre in Greenfield will also be open on Wednesday afternoons, offering food and activities to pupils.
He said: “Thanks to bus companies we have extra buses using the turnaround to help alleviate pupil numbers in Uppermill.
“The children’s behaviour has been impeccable and last week within 20 minutes Uppermill was clear.”
He added. “Life is what you make of it and I hope children take this time and use their initiative to do something useful and they enjoy.
“The programme will develop and evolve and we have actually increased teaching time for pupils under this new system.”
Brian Lord, chair of the school’s governors, said: “The school has been rated ‘good’ by Ofsted for the last few years and it is difficult to make that into ‘outstanding’ when you’re such a big school. We need to be proactive.
“This is a win-win situation – the staff have time in an afternoon for extra planning and developing their teaching and the children are able to start to organise their own lives.”
What do you think about the new timetable? Call Aimee on: 01457 879264 or email: aimee@saddind.co.uk
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