Governors to decide on longer day at Bexhill High

The proposal put forward by principal Mike Conn is for pupils to stay every day until 5pm instead of 3.10, and this would take effect from September 2010.

There has been strong reaction from some parents to the idea of a longer school day and a public meeting held before the end of summer term appeared to raise more questions that it answered.

The meeting was described by one parent as "a PR disaster" and a "fiasco" which did little to help families decide if the longer school day could work for them.

Their concerns included children walking home later at night in the dark, missing out on relaxing family time at home, and traffic congestion in the area.

The meeting of the school governors will be held on Monday September 21, but in the meantime five surgeries have been held at the school so that parents could talk through their worries.

The first surgery was held last Friday, and the other ones this week between the hours of 2.30-4.30pm.

Mum Anita Bromley said: "It's a ten minute slot where you get the opportunity to tell the governor who is there what your opinion is - which I find difficult because I think a lot of us still don't know how it is going to run, so how we give an opinion I am not really sure."

Tania Turner is a mother of three children at Bexhill High who set up a website - www.bexhillhighhours.webeden.co.uk - so that anyone interested could express their view.

So far she claims the vast majority have been in opposition with hardly any in support.

Tania said: "I set up a poll at the weekend so when you look in you can vote Yes, No, or Unsure if Bexhill High should increase its hours. Then the governors could be invited to look at the whole thing.

"My main thing is I was happy that people from both sides would give their opinions but predominantly it is people who are against...I think there might be one or two in support, but nobody who has used the website seems really in favour. Some pupils have used it and they are all against it because they say they are tired enough as it is, and don't want to stay at school any longer. There are a few worries about walking home in the dark - there are quite a lot of interesting comments really.

"I am pleased we set it up because it has given people who want to air their views the chance to do it.

"I feel it is important for people to feel they are heard."

This week Mr Conn commented: "I expected people to put their views forward - the only thing I am surprised about if people claiming they haven't been consulted, that couldn't be further from the truth.

"The governors will take onboard all of their opinions and will weigh it all up when they make their decision.

"Everybody is saying this is a foregone conclusion but they are completely wrong - they obviously don't know the governing body here. The governors will either agree wholeheartedly or they will not, and might make their own suggestions. But it is wrong to say it is a foregone conclusion, because it is not at all."