Since September 2018 (following extensive consultation with stakeholders), Pembroke Dock Community School have been operating an asymmetric week.  It was introduced to further raise standards in both teaching and learning, as well as improve well-being for both pupils and staff. 

We lengthened the school day slightly Monday – Thursday, so that the school day on Friday finished at 12.15pm.  By Friday lunchtime the pupils have completed all their lesson time and have the option of going home for the afternoon.  The school continues to provide free childcare activities on the Friday.

The asymmetric week has been a very positive development at Pembroke Dock Community School for a number of reasons, including:

Professional Learning Opportunities

• The asymmetric week has allowed the school to increase professional learning time for staff and provide dedicated time for continuous upskilling of the whole workforce.  This arrangement has trebled the time spent on professional learning (an additional forty hours a year), which has significantly and positively impacted on classroom practice. 

• Pupils have more time with their teachers, as meetings and collaborative work is timetabled to take place on Fridays, and we try not to take teachers out of classrooms.

• The staff’s working pattern has also changed too to work to the asymmetric model.  For half of the Friday afternoons, teachers have full afternoons for professional learning training, which could involve having outside providers, or from the University, or in-house training, or working collaboratively on professional learning enquiries, or in professional learning communities for different areas of expertise.  We could be sharing good practice with one another.  We sometimes work with other schools, in particular with the Pembroke cluster of schools and the secondary school to support transition and the continuity in provision.

• The demands of staff training are ever increasing, with the implementation of major education reforms, including the New Curriculum for Wales, ALN transformation and new assessment measures.  The asymmetric week has given the staff time to develop our school curriculum, pedagogy, assessment, policy, and practice. Staff feel that this time has supported them in their development and gives them skills and confidence when they are very well trained.  Staff are highly motivated, well-trained, are research informed and using pedagogical skills that are up to date.

Improving well-being  

• The asymmetric week has been good for children’s well-being, providing an extra-long weekend, and more family time for many pupils.  Both parents and pupils have provided many examples of how the arrangement has impacted positively on their well-being and family life.  Pupils who stay behind on the Friday afternoon report that they enjoy the social time with peers.  A child’s right to play is one of the UNCRC Children’s Rights and is accepted universally.  Article 13 of the convention states: Every child has the right to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child.

• On afternoons where there is not professional learning time scheduled, most staff can leave school and benefit from time with their families, helping to support their work life balance and well-being.  Whilst being an incredibly rewarding career, teaching is also very demanding and challenging profession.  Overwhelmingly staff report that this time has been beneficial for their health and well-being.  A well-motivated and supported staff has reduced any issues around recruitment or retention.  When nationally there are recruitment issues, we always have a very positive response to vacancies.  We aim to avoid any of these challenges by fully supporting the development and well-being of our staff.

How does the Asymmetric Week work on Fridays ? 

Doors open at 8.50am

Finish time - 12.15pm

 Important information  to know

• Lunchtime arrangements as normal, or pupils can have a takeaway meal

• Free activities for pupils 1.05pm – 3pm provided by school staff (staff hours were altered slightly to factor this provision in, at no additional cost to the school)

• No additional costs to school or parents whatsoever

• Flexible pick up times on Friday afternoon. The flexibility that pupils can be collected at any time throughout the Friday afternoon (they do not have to wait until the end of the day), parents just turn up at reception

• Flexible arrangements. There is flexibility as to whether pupils remain behind or not on the Friday, as staffing is allocated based on the number of pupils present (support staff who are in school alternate between training and covering activities with pupils)

• Flying Start runs as normal

• Wrap around care runs as normal on Fridays (until 5.30pm – which is registered with the CIW)

• Late pick club also runs as normal until 4pm.