Education Secretary unveils extended school opening plan

Education Secretary Ruth Kelly has unveiled plans for extended opening hours for primary and secondary schools in England.

Under the new proposals, schools would open between 8am and 6pm every day, offering a variety of ‘breakfast clubs’ and after-school activities, including homework clubs, sport activities, music tuition, and opportunities to learn skills such as another foreign language, chess or first aid.

Mrs Kelly said the government planned to put £680 million into the scheme over the next two years. She said the scheme would “not only help children with their education, but also support hard working families to manage their home and work life” by providing “high quality wraparound childcare” during the extended opening hours.

The Education Secretary said: “Schools are at the heart of our communities and it makes sense to extend the services they offer beyond the traditional school day. By 2010 all children under 14 who want to, could have access to breakfast and after-school clubs offering exciting activities from 8am to 6pm. These would give them the opportunity to keep fit and healthy, to acquire new skills and build on what they learn during the school day as well as have fun.”

The plans also include the provision of parental support and family learning opportunities; access to a wide range of specialist support services, such as speech therapy, mental health services and sexual health services for secondary school pupils; and the provision of wider community access to services such as ICT and sports and arts facilities, including adult learning.

However, teachers will not be expected to provide the extra services, which the government plans to introduce to all schools by 2010. Mrs Kelly said: “We’re not expecting teachers to deliver these services but for schools to work with providers in the voluntary and private sectors, support staff and other children’s services to develop their local provision.”

The new proposals have been cautiously welcomed by teachers’ organisations.

The Professional Association of Teachers (PAT) said that funding and training were necessary in order to put the plans into action. PAT General Secretary Jean Gemmell said: “Extending school hours might help to counter the anti-social behaviour that occurs when children are footloose and fancy-free. However, the details, such as who is responsible for buildings and equipment during the extended hours, will have to be sorted out.”

(KMcA/SP)