Academy to shake up the school day

OASIS Academy Oldham is changing its school day from September to help improve achievement, teaching and behaviour.

Principal David Hayes said the move would enable the Hollins school to provide more vocational training, one-to-one pupil support and improved teacher training.

The current number of teaching hours will remain the same. But the changes include reducing the length of morning break and having shorter, staggered lunch breaks.

Lessons will finish at 1.55pm on a Thursday to allow for a greater range of extra-curricular activities, including introductory apprenticeships and vocational training for pupils.

The academy was told it has serious weaknesses in its first inspection by the education watchdog Ofsted in November.

Principal David Hayes said: “The academy needed to find a way to improve the level of pupil achievement, the standard of pupil behaviour and the training support we offer our teaching staff.

“Pupils will also receive greater individual support without sacrificing academic classroom time.”