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NAHT Cymru

NAHT Cymru is the definitive voice of school leaders in Wales. We keep the best interests of children at the heart of everything we do.

Along with our colleagues in England and Northern Ireland, we are here to defend and extend the rights of our members, as well as provide advice, protection and support specific to school leaders throughout Wales

NAHT Cymru yw llais diffyniadol arweinwyr ysgolion yng Nghymru. Mae buddiannau gorau plant yng nghraidd popeth a wnawn.

Ynghyd â'n cydweithwyr yn Lloegr a Gogledd Iwerddon, rydym yn bodoli i warchod ac ymestyn hawliau ein haelodau, yn ogystal â darparu cyngor, diogelwch a chymorth sy'n benodol i arweinwyr ysgolion ledled Cymru.

NAHT Cymru comments on pilot trialling extending the school day

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.”

First published 09 December 2021

Please give us your views  on the current consultations

 

Welsh Government

Independent review of school teachers pay and conditions in Wales

OPENED 18 January 2018 - CLOSES 1 March 2018

NAHT Cymru draft response of independent review

Support for doctoral study
OPENED 8 December 2017 - CLOSES 2 March 2018

The Education (Amendments Relating to Teacher Assessment Information) (Wales) Regulations 2018
OPENED 14 November 2017 – CLOSES 30 January 2018

Recent consultations

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