PUPILS at Hermitage Academy could see changes in the number of classes they attend from day to day, the school’s head teacher has revealed.

Addressing the Academy’s parent council last week, Robert Williamson said that varying the number of classes, and lengths of period, on different days of the week was one of a number of options being explored – but there are no changes planned to the overall length of the day.

The school is seeking feedback from its staff on its curriculum as it looks to the future, with several opinions already gathered.

An ‘asymmetric week’ already operates in West Dunbartonshire’s secondary schools. They have seven periods on Mondays and Tuesdays, finishing at 3.50pm, and six periods on the three remaining days of the week, finishing at 3pm.

However, Mr Williamson said there are no plans to amend the length of the school day at Hermitage, which currently runs from 8.55am to 3.30pm.

Mr Williamson said: “We are looking at our curriculum as a whole and have started that process.

“We have asked for feedback from staff and a lot mentions an asymmetric week.

“This would require a longer consultation so we will be having further discussions to see if staff would like to take it forward. We are putting together a couple of models.

“We have had queries as to whether we are changing the school day. We are not changing the school day.

“An asymmetric week is time consuming but if it is something we can contain within the day we have to consider whether it is something we can look at.

“But there are other solutions out there that meet the needs of our young people.

“We have to ensure these are effective. Each model has its own advantages.

“What we will have is some departments losing time and some gaining time. I would like to know that staff are comfortable with the models we are putting forward.

“I would want parents to be completely happy but with the change in workload it has to be something we are comfortable moving into.

“If it is not going to be an asymmetric week, I think this process could be done and dusted by October.

“I can’t make a decision for staff. But what we are looking for is a very strong support for our young people.”

Mr Williamson added that changing the number of periods would entail some tough procedures.

He added: “You do not need full consultation unless you change your school day. We would not need to go to the council or anybody else as long as we start and finish at the same time.”

“That is why I am so keen to stay away from that asymmetric week, as we would have to start asking schools about how to implement it and it would take a couple of years to implement.”