FAQs for 2024-25 timetable changes

Lessons will start at 9.15am but in many cases students will have a later start.  On Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, lessons will be extended to 4.15pm.  However, on these days, the first lesson will either start at 11am or students will be compensated by earlier finish times on other days. 

No, this will occur in 1 out of 10 cases.  In 6 out of 10 cases, it will be on 2 occasions and in the rest, 3 out of 10 cases, it will be just once.

We have worked with our bus service managed by Kura and with other public operators and made adjustments to fit in with our new start and finish times. 

Kura buses:  

Please download the Kura app for departure times but all Kura buses are now scheduled to arrive at the college at 09:10am. 

Departures from college will be: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 4:30pm and Wednesday and Friday at 4pm. 

Public business from Ipswich Buses, Simmonds, Beestons and First:

We review our timetables regularly to provide a transformative educational experience for our students and we regularly assess and improve the structures that shape their learning environment.

We have been planning these changes to the college timetable for several years and we are confident that they will bring beneficial learning outcomes.  We are acutely conscious of potential disruption and therefore we are consulting with our Yr12 student ambassadors regarding the possibility of distributing lessons over 4 days for those at a mid-point in their studies.

In doing so we will be able to phase in new timetable arrangements, which retain aspects of the current table which appeal to existing students whilst introducing innovations that include. 

• Increasing the frequency of subject lessons, from 2 to 3 times a week will enhance learning by reinforcing concepts regularly, promoting better knowledge retention, and deepening understanding. 
• Reducing lesson length, from 130 minutes to 90 minutes will help to maintain focus, reduce overload, and optimise attention span. 
• Providing teachers with an extra lesson per subject per week will give them greater flexibility to implement a wider variety of teaching methods to make learning experiences even better. 

The length of lessons will change from 130 minutes to 90 minutes, the overall time per subject will remain at 4.5hrs.  Feedback from students and teachers suggests that shorter lessons are better for focus and mental health. 

There will be some triple (135 minute) and some quad (180 minute) lessons that exist in L2 / L3 Ext Dip vocational subjects with a high level of practical content to allow them to get the most out of the new timetable.  Of course, it is expected staff will facilitate breaks between longer lessons.

Students will study a maximum of 3 lessons per day (more typically this will be 2 lessons per day). The exception being for those students studying 4 A level subjects.  

We are extending the lunchbreaks on Wednesdays and Fridays from 75 to 90 minutes to accommodate extra-curricular activities. We will plan for rehearsal slots and practical activities to be timetabled, rather than squeezed into lunchtimes. 

However, it will still be possible for music rehearsals and clubs to run on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday as we can carefully timetable teaching staff so that they are available at a common time (e.g. 12.30-13.15) but can take their lunches earlier (11.45-12.30) or later (13.15-14.00). It is likely that students will have similar flexibility too. 

Many students may find that their timetable has the flexibility to offer a lunchbreak during other non-contact time if they need to attend a revision session during the designated “lunch” period 

We will give students dedicated time for meaningful, independent study between lessons with teachers and learning mentors on hand for any added support.  We anticipate that students will benefit from a “non” teaching day, together with later starts and/or earlier finishes, which can be taken onsite or offsite.

This will depend on individual timetables.  For current students, these will be available on the Student Dashboard on 28th June.  For students starting in September, these will accessible via the application portal on 1st September. 

Lockers are available for students to use, if more are required, we can review arrangements.

There will still be occasions when student timetables will offer the flexibility of later starts and/or earlier finishing times that will be compatible with part-time work.  We will endeavour, where possible, to make unique adjustments for individuals so that they can balance life and college commitments.

The timetable is weekly - in most cases lessons will be split between two teachers on a 2 lessons/1 lesson basis.

Timetable changes will be implemented for the new 2024/25 academic year this September.

Increasing the frequency of subject lessons, from 2 to 3 times a week will enhance learning by reinforcing concepts regularly, promoting better knowledge retention, and deepening understanding. 

The changes will give students dedicated time for supported independent study between their lessons, allowing them to develop their critical thinking skills; excellent preparation for higher education or the world of work 

The changes will improve student experience and provide a more flexible timetable. Moving forward, the adjustments ensure that our students will receive the full entitlement to their planned learning hours as we prepare for future curriculum changes prompted by national educational policy. 

These changes will allow a greater choice of combinations of subjects. 

The college day has a standard start time of 09.15am, with a lunch break at 12.30pm, on three occasions in the week, lessons are extended until 16.15pm. However, note that the timing of lessons is generally consistent 09.15-10.45 / 11.00-12.30 / 13.15-14.45 / 14.45-16.15 - apart from Wednesday and Friday afternoon when lessons run 14.00-15.30. 

Although, lessons may start at different times during the week, students are welcome onsite across the day. 

We will be reviewing the provision of study spaces in the Turquoise LRC.  The timetable changes will still result in half-days on site for many. 

No, but there will be structured time for independent learning outside of class time. 

Yes, the wellbeing of our students is paramount and we have invested significantly in an extensive pastoral and welfare team to provide comprehensive, wraparound support. 

We have gone through an extensive process of research, planning, and consultation with our staff to develop our preferred timetable model. We have conducted focus groups with our student ambassadors and welcomed feedback. We are now informing current students, prospective students, parents, and external partners. As we engage more widely, we will update this document to reflect any further changes. 

High needs funded SEN students within our Supported Learning provision won’t be as affected by these changes as their timetable is fixed at 9:15-3.30pm every day.

In most cases, a break won't be necessary and will be offset by other factors, including a later start, meaning a shorter day overall and a long break between lessons in the middle of the day.  Therefore, we don’t believe that the addition of a break between periods 7 and 8 will bring significant benefits. In fact, it will more likely lengthen the day, or require an earlier start, neither of which are desirable. 

We will of course monitor the situation in practice, and if needed, we can shorten the morning break to 10 mins to provide a 5 min afternoon break.

There are plenty of options to ask questions or voice any concerns:

• Speak to your student ambassador team
• Email – feedback@easterneducationgroup.ac.uk