Item 07 Appendix 1
West Dunbartonshire Council · 17 September 2025
Back to Educational Services Committee — 17 September 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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THIS IS A CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT PROPOSAL PAPER Proposal: The purpose of this consultation is to seek approval to implement a structure of 33 periods per week in all secondary schools in West Dunbartonshire Council for school session 2026/27 and beyond.
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1. PROPOSAL ___________________________________________________________________ 1.0 PROPOSAL 1.1 This proposal seeks approval for the implementation of a 33-period week across all secondary schools in West Dunbartonshire Council from August 2026. The proposed structure aligns with Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) aims, supports equity and attainment, increases curricular flexibility, and enables better alignment with national educational priorities such as reducing teacher contact time and promoting interdisciplinary learning. The proposed change is informed by successful implementation models across several Scottish local authorities, including Angus, Moray, Dundee, Stirling, and North Ayrshire. 1.2 Evidence from these authorities demonstrates educational, operational, and financial benefits. The proposal would not increase pupil contact hours but would restructure the school week to better utilise available time. The proposal is cost-neutral and may offer modest efficiency savings over time. The document outlines the educational rationale, financial implications, consultation processes, and key benefits of the proposed change. 2.0 BACKGROUND / LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENT 2.1 Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) serves as Scotland's national curriculum framework, promoting a holistic approach to education that develops learners' knowledge, skills, and attributes across four capacities: successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens, and effective contributors. CfE emphasises the importance of a coherent curriculum from ages 3 to 18, encompassing the Broad General Education (BGE) and the Senior Phase. Recent reviews, including the OECD's assessment of CfE (2021) and the Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment Report (Hayward Review 2023), have highlighted the need for curriculum reform to ensure equitable access to learning opportunities and to reduce teacher workload. Additionally, the Scottish Government remains committed to reducing teachers' maximum class contact time to 21 hours per week to alleviate workload pressures. 3.0 DETAILS OF PROPOSED OPTIONS 3.1 Introduction of a 33-Period Week Across All Secondary Schools Educational Structure: The school week will consist of 33 periods, each lasting 50 minutes Monday to Wednesday: 7 periods per day Thursday and Friday: 6 periods per day
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Educational Rationale Implementing a 33-period week will provide greater flexibility in curriculum delivery, allowing for a broader range of subjects and learning experiences, including greater flexibility for core subjects and electives while supporting CfE's aim of offering a Broad General Education and facilitates interdisciplinary learning. Educational Benefits: Enhanced curriculum breadth and depth. Improved opportunities for interdisciplinary learning. Better alignment with learners' interests and career aspirations. 38 extra teaching periods per year for each pupil than the current 32 period week Implementation Model: The school week would consist of 33 periods, each lasting 50 minutes. This structure allows for an A-symmetric week with Seven period days Monday – Wednesday and a six periods per day, Thursday and Friday. This would accommodate core subjects, electives, and interdisciplinary projects. Allowing schools an additional period per year group than the current model of 32 periods. See appendix A for a Model for the 33-period week. Financial Implications: Transitioning to a 33-period week should not require adjustments in staffing. However, with an additional teaching period this may require further investment in resourcing and materials based on what schools use this period for. There will be an impact on changes to school transport arrangements, but this is expected to be cost neutral. Nonetheless, it can lead to more efficient use of existing staff by optimising scheduling and reducing the need for supply staff. Authorities such as Falkirk, Dundee, and Angus have implemented similar models with no increase in recurring expenditure. 4.0 EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS STATEMENT Pupils 4.1 Implementing a 33-period week offers learners increased access to a broader curriculum, facilitating deeper engagement with subjects and promoting interdisciplinary learning. This aligns with Curriculum for Excellence’s (CfE) aim of providing a holistic education that develops the four capacities: successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens, and effective contributors. It would also allow for better progression pathways into the Senior Phase by giving schools an opportunity to offer greater support in the BGE utilising the additional period for employability skills, leadership courses or career pathway programmes.
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Parents, Carers and Local Community 4.2 A more flexible timetable allows schools to incorporate project-based and interdisciplinary learning, enhancing learners' real-world experiences and strengthening community links. Parents and carers can expect a curriculum that better prepares learners for diverse post-school pathways. Other users of the schools 4.3 There is the potential to use the additional period in the curriculum to provide opportunities to work with community groups and other partners to foster strong relationships and deepen learning. Effect on Staff and School Management Arrangements 4.4 There will be no implications for any teaching or support staff in any schools nor any impact on school management arrangements because of the proposed changes. Other pupils in the council area 4.5 There will be no impact on other pupils in the council area. Any other likely effects of the proposal (if implemented) 4.6 Enhanced collaboration among schools may lead to the development of innovative programmes and shared best practices, enriching the educational landscape. How we would intend to minimise or avoid any adverse effects that may arise from the proposal (if implemented) 4.7 Effective communication and joint planning among schools will be crucial to address logistical challenges and ensure a unified approach to implementation. The benefits, which we believe, would result from implementation of the proposal 4.9 We believe the following benefits will result: o Equitable access to diverse subject offerings. o Streamlined transitions between schools. o Strengthened inter-school collaboration. 5.0 DATE OF CHANGE
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5.1 If the proposal is agreed and implemented the changes will take effect in time for the 2026/27 school timetable. 6.0 CONSULTATION PROCESS 6.1 Views on the proposals are being sought from a range of interested parties including: Parents of learners, including those expected by the Council to attend secondary schools within two years of the date of publication of the proposal paper; Parent Council(s) of those affected schools(s); All staff (teaching and support) at the school, including relevant trade unions and professional associations; Other interested bodies such as community councils; and Consultation with such other Councils as it considers relevant Consultation Period 6.2 Following approval by the Education Committee, the consultation period will run from Thursday the 18th of September 2025 until midnight on Friday the 31ST of October 2025, which includes a period of 23 days where schools would be open, taking into account the September weekend and the October break. Public Meetings 6.4 A series of public meetings will be held to discuss the proposal. It is proposed that a public meeting will take place in each of our secondary schools. Officers of the Council will be present to discuss the proposal and there will be an opportunity for interested parties to hear more about the proposal and ask questions at the meeting. This meeting will also be available online, should interested parties wish to take part virtually. We appreciate, however, that there will be limited time at the meeting to discuss everything fully and not everyone is comfortable with speaking in a public meeting. To make sure all issues are covered, and everyone gets the opportunity to contribute to the discussion, we are happy to accept advance notice of specific questions or issues individuals would like to raise at the meeting. Advance questions will be accepted in writing only up to 2 days in advance of the meeting and can be submitted by email. Individuals should let us know how the proposal would affect them and their family whether they would like to be named at the meeting as asking the particular question submitted. The Formal Public Consultation Meeting will take place as follows: Date Venue Presentation and Question and
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Answer session – Time of Meeting. 21st October 2025 Vale of Leven Academy 6pm 22nd October 2025 Our Lady & St. Patrick’s High School 6pm 23rd October 2025 Dumbarton Academy 6pm 28th October 2025 Clydebank High School 6pm 29th October 2025 St. Peter the Apostle High School 6pm All dates join online at https://meet.google.com/cwz- kazc-quy 6pm Preparation of Consultation report 6.5 The Council will review the proposal having regard to any written representations that it has received, and any oral representations made by any person at the public meetings. Decision 6.6 It is anticipated that the Educational Services Committee will decide to approve or reject the final proposal at is meeting on 26TH November 2026. 7.0 Responding to the Proposal 7.1 Interested parties are invited to respond by making online, electronic or written submissions on the proposal or any alternative proposal, no later than midnight on Friday 31ST October 2025. For email or written submission, the standard response form (Appendix 1) should be used. Online – https://forms.gle/xDZuGDVqYvSA7w6S9 Email – educationstaffingteam@west-dunbarton.gov.uk In writing - Chief Education Officer Educational Services West Dunbartonshire Council 16 Church Street Dumbarton G82 1QL Queries: 01389 737391 - comments can be left via voicemail, which will be added to any other responses received.
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8.0 DATA PROTECTION 8.1 Those sending in a response, whether by letter or electronically should note that personal information i.e. name, address and contact details will not be made available publicly. Only staff involved in the management and administration of the consultation exercise and the Elected Members of the Council will be given access to that information. An anonymised summary of responses will be published as part of the report on the consultation.
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APPENDIX 1 Proposed implementation of 33 period week WRITTEN RESPONSE SUBMISSION FORM YOUR DETAILS: Please complete Full Name: Home Address: Email or Contact Number: YOUR INTEREST: please indicate below: Resident in West Dunbartonshire Parent / Carer Staff Member (WDC school or early years establishment) Child / Young Person Trade Union Other (specify) Proposal (please refer to the proposal paper for full details). It is proposed that the Council implement a 33-period week across all secondary schools in West Dunbartonshire Council from August 2026. Q1. Implementation of a 33 – Period week Do you agree with the proposal to implement a 33-period week across all secondary schools in West Dunbartonshire Council from August 2026? Yes No Comments: Data Protection and Freedom of Information We need your details for the purpose of collating responses to this consultation. The Council may check your details with other information held and may share these with other council services and Education Scotland. Consultation responses will be made publicly available on demand. Comments will not be attributed to individuals, and your personal details including name and address will not be shown on any consultation report. If you would prefer your comments not to be made public please ensure you have ticked the correct box below. Further information on how the Council handles your personal information can be found on our website. Please indicate whether you are happy for your comments to be made public. Yes No
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APPENDIX 2 33 Period Week: Exemplar times Period Start End Mon Tues Wed Thu Fri 1 9.00 9.50 1 1 1 1 1 2 9.50 10.40 2 2 2 2 2 Interval 10.40 10.55 INTERVAL 3 10.55 11.45 3 3 3 3 3 4 11.45 12.35 4 4 4 4 4 Lunch 12.35 1.20 LUNCH 5 1.20 2.10 5 5 5 5 5 6 2.10 3.00 6 6 6 6 6 7 3.00 3.50 7 7 7
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Example of a 33-Period Week Curriculum Structure: S5/S6 PSE/RE/PE Maths English Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 3 Periods 6 Periods 6 Periods 6 Periods 6 Periods 6 Periods Example of a 33 Period week Curriculum Structure: S3/S4 PSE/RME/PE Maths Modern Languages English Science Social Subjects Technologies Expressive Arts H&WB 5 periods 5 periods 3 periods 5 periods 3 periods 3 periods 3 periods 3 periods 3 periods Example of a 33 period week Curriculum Structure: BGE (S1 & S2) PSE/RME/ PE Maths English Mod Langs Science Social Subjects Tech Business / ICT HE Art Music Computing 4 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2