A HIGH school’s proposal to overhaul the timing of the school day – in a change which would see pupils finish at lunchtime on a Friday – has sparked fears “hundreds of unsupervised children” could be left to roam the area.

Queensbury Academy, part of the Bradford-based Feversham Education Trust, has informed parents it wants to lengthen the school day from Monday to Thursday and cut the hours pupils - aged between 11 and 18 - spend at school on a Friday.

Councillor Robert Hargreaves (Con, Queensbury) has urged the school to consider the impact the proposed change could have on residents, pointing to the potential for large numbers of children to descend on the village on Friday afternoons when parents or guardians were not available to supervise them.

In a letter to parents, principal Colette Macklin said: “I would like your views on our proposal to change the timing of the school day from September 2018.

“The proposal is to increase the length of the school day from Monday to Thursday and to reduce the length of the school day on Friday.

“There will be one additional lesson per week and no change to the length of lessons. The changes will result in a 3.30pm finish Monday to Thursday instead of the current 2.45pm. School will finish for students at 12.00 on Friday.

“School staff will be involved in training, meetings and other school improvement activities on Friday afternoons.”

The school, on Deanstones Lane, is now seeking views from parents on the proposal and said: “Responses will be considered throughout the consultation period and a final decision will be communicated to staff, students and parents/carers by Friday, June 15, 2018.

“If the proposals are agreed, it will allow a period of 11 weeks before the new arrangements come into operation.”

Councillor Hargreaves said of the plans: “I do believe that we should always be open to change and I think the school’s consultation is a positive move in terms of involving the people directly affected. You would like to think that the school will continue to be completely open throughout the process and seriously consider any concerns that are raised. It’s also important that they consider the impact any changes will have on the local community and residents immediately surrounding the school. Potentially, we could see hundreds of unsupervised children descending on the area until their parents, carers and/or guardians can be available.

“I do intend on speaking to someone from the school as soon as possible to discuss potential measures that could be put in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of pupils whose parents, carers and/or guardians will not be able to provide additional care on days the school closes early.”

Parents have taken to Facebook to share their thoughts. While some welcomed the change, others raised issues about the potential impact on Queensbury. One wrote: “Wonder about how full time working parents are meant to safely accommodate their child on a Friday afternoon! Or are they putting activities on?”

Another said: “Fancy a quiet Friday afternoon in Russell Hall Park with your toddlers? Forget that.”

Another person added. “This works well for my family.”

Mrs Macklin said the school had looked at a number of different models before reaching the proposal put forward for the early Friday finish, which would be subject to a “genuine consultation”.

She said it would allow for professional development time and that it was about improving the quality of teaching, learning and outcomes.

Addressing concerns about the impact on the village, Mrs Macklin said there would be activities for unsupervised children, that the school would be speaking with the community and staff would still be on site through the afternoon.