Background
As you may be aware, staff at BSHS for a period of 18 months have been reviewing our current weekly structure and timetable.
Why?
There has been a strong feeling among staff and students that the current weekly structure is not as effective or impactful as it could be. Our ability to offer opportunities for all students and to staff extra‑curricular activities is increasingly challenged by high enrolment and resourcing pressures. We understand what works for our students and it is important to find a solution that sustains the great work and values that BSHS encompasses. A more flexible timetable will allow us to address these issues and provide more appropriate learning experiences for the betterment of student outcomes and wellbeing.
Consultation:
Thank you to those who took the time to provide feedback during the consultation window.
We have made one structural change to the proposed timetable by swapping the Monday and Wednesday day structure. This will alleviate pressure on extra-curricular training and allow appropriate rest and recovery between games and training.
While there were many worthwhile suggestions for inclusion in the proposed structure, mainly centred around the 30‑minute lunch breaks, these suggestions would not be viable as BSHS must comply with industrial awards relating to teacher working conditions.
However, due to the feedback we will be re-opening the PAC canteen to provide additional services to students during their lunch breaks. More information regarding lunch time provisions will be distributed via the Principals Newsletter in the upcoming weeks.
Why have we changed our timetable?
· Junior students will have more effective learning environments through greater flexibility in the use of on-site facilities. (Junior students accessing Science labs, Drama spaces, gym, etc).
· Introduction of Flex time for Y10-12.
· Less impact upon student learning. Due to the new weekly structure, examinations will minimise classroom relocations for all students and avoid senior students from missing multiple lessons during assessment time.
· Retains staff collaborative, professional development time to support and enhance student learning and outcomes.
· Small change to start and finish times to minimise impact upon daily routines.
· Assemblies will occur as appropriate within the ARC (Pastoral Period) rather than weekly. This will allow for a more personalised and appropriate learning environment and delivery.
· Students in Years 7 to 9 will now have an opportunity to participate in an 'Enrichment' period.
· A There will be additional flexibility for academic mentoring, parent‑teacher meetings, workshops, tutorials, masterclasses, and supervised study opportunities for senior students during flexible learning time.
· More strategic use of human resources to fulfil BSHS staffing, curriculum, and operational goals.
To ensure we maintain compliance with industrial awards for teachers and support staff.
Key points:
· Within this timetable/weekly structure model, students in Years 7 to 9 are on-site for slightly longer than as per the current model.
· The school day starts slightly earlier, i.e. 8:50am.
· Within this model, students in Years 10 to 12, leave school on a Monday afternoon during the second lunch break (between 12:45 and 1:20pm) on a weekly basis.
· Students in the senior school, Years 10 to 12, will have one additional early afternoon finish (Refer Appendix A) per week. This will change on a monitored and rotational basis over a three-week period, ensuring no subject is disadvantaged. This is termed 'flex time', when students will be either learning off-site or be offered a variety of workshops, tutorials, 'External' presentations, specific task completion, supervised time onsite (example: library spaces for independent study) or required for assessment completion.
· Before the start of each of the four terms in the school year, parents/caregivers, students and staff will be given clear communication clarifying the details of the 'flex' schedule for each of senior school year groups for that term. This will be reflected in Compass; students will see their weekly schedule updated with the relevant events or exam. When an event or exam is placed into a student schedule, attendance will be taken and is mandatory.
Flex Time:
Senior students will receive flexible learning time. The expectation is that students are working towards specific task completion, their assessment deadlines, accessing school resources (such as student services), attending exams or events. The guiding principle behind this “Flex" time is the development of student agency, whereby senior students make prudent decisions on the most effective use of time to support their studies.
This time is to be used appropriately by students to complete their studies. It is not “free” time. Student attendance will be mandatory for the below events. These events will be reflected in students weekly Compass Schedules.
The senior enrolment agreement has been adapted to reflect this expectation and will be redistributed to all 11-12 students at the beginning of next year.
Can I remain onsite during flex? Yes!
It is important to note that any students who remain on site during “flex” must be supervised. The upper campus library will be used as a senior study space during these periods; this is the only space students will be permitted to study independently. Students are to attend at the end of lunch break and sign in as a record of their attendance to ensure we are compliant with health and safety procedures.
Enrichment:
Enrichments courses across this block of time will be offered to years 7,8 and 9. All enrichment courses will provide opportunity for students to access learning and capability development across the Australian curriculum general capabilities. Each enrichment course is a semester long.
Each year level will have set semester of learning that will enrich their curriculum that they will complete as a cohort. Each year level will have the opportunity to choose a semester of learning in the following enrichment areas:
Students will select courses based on their preferences. Student numbers will be capped for operational requirements in some courses. Some courses may require payment for materials and/or competition entry fees
******* Courses are currently being devised by BSHS staff. Students will be provided information on these courses in late term 4. They will also be asked to submit their course of preference.
More information regarding enrichment will appear shortly. *******
Junior Timetable Example:
Senior Timetable Examples:
While senior timetables follow the same structure as junior timetables, their flexible rotations differ. Please refer to the appropriate year-level video to see how it affects your student.
Year 10 Timetable Structure:
Year 11 Timetable Structure:
Year 12 Timetable Structure: