CQUniversity’s Professor Ken Purnell has welcomed the State Government’s decision to allow flexible learning in schools, calling Australia’s school system an “historical artefact”.
Under a new policy announced on 6 November, all Queensland schools will have the option of implementing flexible study arrangements from next year, including four-day weeks and shorter days.
Prof Purnell, who is CQU’s head of educational neuroscience, said academic papers on the topic found a four-say school week was a “less cluttered and overwhelming experience” for many students.
“It’s about creating a superior environment where they feel cared for, with the net result that it benefits their mental health and helps their achievements, whether that’s academic, sporting, social or in the performing arts,” he said.
“For about 20 to 30 per cent of students, school is the worst thing you can imagine, in their eyes they could almost be in jail.
“Anything that we can do to reduce that stress is significant.”
He said US studies found students on a four-day school week had better classroom behavior, with increased focus and motivation thanks to better sleep patterns.
“Studies have also found that bullying is reduced in terms of having less contact with other students directly and less time forced into a 25 person classroom.”
He said a four-day school week with shorter lessons per day would give students time to do an apprenticeship, undertake paid work in the community or go on a long weekend break with their family.
“I believe it’s a really good idea for students to be mentored in the workplace so they can become more accustomed to good socialisation, good communication and a range of people from a range of ages rather than the protective bubble of the school environment.”
Prof Purnell said even dropping from six lessons to five lessons per day was more “brain friendly” for students.
“The brain only turns on for about 20 minutes at a time and lessons are 50 minutes long, it’s information overload with no time for brain breaks,” he said.
Prof Purnell said the changes would also reduce the workload for overworked teachers and give them more time to provide one-on-one feedback to students.
But he stressed a shortened week would not be suitable for most schools – at least not until the benefits were more widely known.
“Human beings are very resistant to change and communities are very reliant on the current system,” he said.
“At first it will just be a few ‘eager beaver’ schools who will reduce the number of lessons in a day or change to a four-day week but over time the advantages will become well researched and attested to.”
Education Minister Grace Grace said while the updated policy allowed schools to be more flexible with their operating hours, it was “definitely not a green light for a four-day week”.
But she admitted four-day weeks were possible under the updated policy, particularly in regional and remote areas.
Under the updated policy, reasons for schools making schedule changes include teacher or resources availability, school community need or student and staff wellbeing and engagement.
Any proposed change must occur in consultation with the school community including parents, staff and students and be approved by a regional director and must meet meet curriculum requirements while not disadvantaging students.
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