Hats off to Queensland for flexible approach to school

By Professor Ken Purnell

Australia’s school system is a historical artefact. It seriously needs to be updated and more efficient with brain-friendly practices to enhance the lives of students and teachers.

It is based on a model designed for the industrial era rather than the 21st century. It needs to address the diverse needs and preferences of students, teachers, and families in an informed and considered way. Additionally, it does not align with the latest research on optimal brain-friendly teaching and learning methods and promoting student well-being.

The Queensland Department of Education has just released a blueprint for flexible school hours to enable both primary and secondary state schools to adopt a four-day school week and/or shorter school days.

A four-day school week with shorter lessons per day presents a superior alternative that can benefit many stakeholders involved. This approach can alleviate stress that interferes with achievements, enhance mental health, increase motivation, and improve learning outcomes for students. Moreover, it can save costs, attract and retain talented teachers (of whom we now need many more), and provide greater flexibility and autonomy for students, teachers, schools and families. It can reduce infrastructure and economic costs and reduce school time congestion in major cities.

Recent studies on the four-day school week, with its fewer hours per week spent in class, have provided evidence of:

• Positive effects on student achievement;
• Better classroom and general behaviour;
• Reduced incidents of fighting and bullying;
• Lower rates of student absenteeism and tardiness;
• Improvements in the quality of teaching and learning;
• Students reporting higher satisfaction and self-esteem;
• Enhanced student well-being and engagement with reduced stress; and
• More opportunities to engage in outside school activities and events.

These findings suggest the potential to foster a more inclusive, positive and brain-friendly school environment.

In addition to improved student outcomes, teachers and families can benefit. Teachers can get more time for planning, feedback to students on assessable works, and professional development, potentially enhancing their well-being. This can result in less teacher burnout and greater job satisfaction – both significant issues in Australia today. 

Families will also likely have increased social connectedness and more leisure time together. For example, a principal at a large NSW school reported to me that parents love getting away on short breaks with their kids on Fridays to “beat the rush and have more time at their destination”. 

A four-day week also affords more community involvement opportunities and the ability to take on paid work, traineeships, or apprenticeships where relevant. Additionally, families can save money on school transportation, childcare, and purchased food expenses and reduce stress from the five-day week regime with its constant nature and often facing significant traffic congestion in cities. And less traffic near schools is always a good thing!

Naturally, a four-day school week will only suit some and must not be mandated state-wide or for whole districts. It is a nuanced and delicate matter that needs careful navigation and buy-in by students, teachers, parents and the school's community. For example, it may present challenges for some working parents and students with special needs who often like clear and repeated routines. School curriculum, assessment, and extracurricular activities may require adjustments. 

A school considering the change to a four-day school week or fewer lessons per day needs to engage meaningfully with stakeholders to assess their local context and evaluate potential positive and negative outcomes before making a decision.

It may be only for a few schools to start. But in 20 years, it may be the norm, and people might ask, ‘Why did we ever do a five-day school week? It makes no sense in hindsight!’.

Adopting a four-day school week or having fewer lessons per day are innovations that can enhance student achievement and well-being in Australia. It may also bring numerous benefits to teachers, schools, and families. 

It is time to re-evaluate the traditional five-day school week and embrace a more flexible and forward-thinking approach to education.