Commenting as Welsh Government announce a pilot in which fourteen schools in Wales will trial providing additional hours this academic year, despite concerns as to the impact on schools, Laura Doel, director of school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“When this idea was first mooted by the Welsh Government, NAHT Cymru raised its concerns over the motivation and timing of such a pilot. We have asked the government for the rational and the evidence to support extending the school day and, so far, they have not made the case.

“Schools’ core purpose is teaching and learning and while we want to be supportive of our families, schools are not there as childcare providers. Evidence shows that keeping children in school for longer does not increase a child’s capacity to learn; the focus should be on providing quality teaching and learning during schools’ hours.

“It is deeply concerning that the government is prioritising a reform agenda without thinking about the impact on schools. NAHT Cymru believes that WG needs to ensure that existing priorities are achieved and embedded before launching yet more initiatives. With the new curriculum, inspection arrangements, ALN legislation and qualifications already changing, school day – and indeed year reform, which is also being discussed – is a step too far.

“The fact that only 14 schools have signed up to take part when the government had wanted 20 speaks volumes. The profession is on its knees.

“Trade unions were not consulted before the government went out to seek expressions of interest from schools to take part, and our concerns about the additional pressure this pilot would put on schools now, when we are clearly suffering from a staff absence crisis, have been ignored.

“The failure to consult with and listen to the profession is concerning, demonstrating a real lack of understanding of the current situation in education. Now is not the time for piloting pet projects when schools are breaking point and we urge the government to put any further reform plans and pilots on hold.”