Auckland school defends eight-hour day for pupils

By ALAN PERROTT


The principal of King's School has defended the decision to lengthen the school day in the face of opposition by some parents.

Tony Sissons said the school was forced into it by trying to fit the three R's into an ever-expanding curriculum.

The exclusive private school's daily timetable will next year run from 8am to 4.15pm for boys as young as 10.

Mr Sissons said the extra time was needed to allow students proper instruction in core subjects such as mathematics, English as well as the school's own religious studies course.

"Over the years there has been increased pressure on our timetable because of the growth in subjects like computing, languages, science, performance arts and sport," he said.

"When we looked at this we started to realise there has been a slow erosion of the core curriculum and we simply want to see these areas are still covered properly."

The principal said most of the comments he had received from parents were positive.

However, one mother who contacted the Herald claimed the change would rob her son of his childhood and limit their family time.

She said that with travel time included, her 9-year-old son's day would run from 7.10am to 5.30pm.

Mr Sissons said the school had tried to prevent student and teacher burnout by extending the morning break by 10 minutes to half an hour, lunchtime by 15 minutes to 75 minutes and by introducing an afternoon break.

He said the new timetable would be reviewed once it was introduced and that he welcomed feedback from parents.