An independent Catholic school in the New South Wales Southern Highlands has defended its decision to allow some students to adopt a four-day school week. Source: News.com.au.
Chevalier College, a Missionaries of the Sacred Heart school in Bowral, will next year permit certain students in years 10 to 12 to “learn from home” on Mondays as part of a “number of measures” being introduced by the school.
The school’s principal, Greg Miller, said it was not “actually” a four-day week.
“We will be setting clear parameters about the expectations of students on that day to consolidate learning from the previous week and to prepare for learning for the week coming up,” he told Sarah Abo on the Today show yesterday.
“It is just a reimagining and a repackaging of time in a smarter and better way so we can have continuity of learning with far less disruptions to face-to-face teaching.”
This comes after the Queensland Government announced new flexible study options for all public primary and secondary schools, also taking effect next year.
Under the new blueprint, Queensland students would be able to study from home one day per week or compress school hours over fewer school days.
Mr Miller said there would be an “extensive” process Chevalier College students would have to undertake to qualify for a learn-from-home day.
The principal also dismissed reports that parents had begun “revolting” following the announcement.
“There is nervousness around moving forward because it is a significant change, but we don’t have, contrary to other reports, parents revolting.”
While some students might study from home on particular Mondays, teachers will still be required to work from campus as before.
Mr Miller also quashed suggestions that the move was due to a lack of staff.
FULL STORY
Principal defends school’s transition to four-day week (By Elena Couper, News.com.au)
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The school where children are being asked to learn from home one day a week (Sydney Morning Herald)
