Sheffield school explains controversial plans to slash lunch break times after parent petition launched
Bosses at the school said the plan was to reduce the lunch break to 40 minutes
Bosses at one of Sheffield’s most successful schools have explained why they want to shave time of the lunch break next year.
The plans which have been drawn up for Tapton School, on Darwin Lane between Crosspool and Ranmoor, have raised concerns among some parents, who are concerned it will add pressures on their children and launched a petition against the change.
Bosses at the school said the plan was to reduce the lunch break to 40 minutes, not 30 minutes as some had speculated.
Clubs and extra-curricular activities would not being cancelled, and pupils will continue to have access to a wide range of enrichment, leadership and extra-curricular opportunities.
School leaders say a 40-minute lunchtime operated successfully at Tapton from 2017 to 2024, during which pupils had enough time to buy and eat their dinner, socialise and take part in wider activities, and are confident this will continue to be the case under the new arrangements.
The school said in a statement:“We are proud to provide a high-quality education alongside a strong focus on pupils’ wellbeing, personal development and sense of belonging. Everything we do is centred on creating an environment where young people can thrive both academically and personally.
“The changes being introduced from September, including to the structure of the school day, form part of a carefully considered package of improvements designed to strengthen pupils’ experience.
“They have been developed to create more time for pastoral support and personal development while ensuring pupils continue to have meaningful opportunities to eat, socialise and participate in enrichment activities.“
The statement added that the school recognised that any changes were likely to prompt questions and the school would be working closely with pupils, parents and staff as the new arrangements were introduced from the new academic year.
“We are confident these developments will have a positive impact and will keep them under review during the autumn term,” it added.
The statement comes after hundreds of concerned parents signed a petition voicing opposition to the plans.
The petition starter said: “As a parent of children attending Tapton School, I am deeply concerned about the proposal to reduce lunchtime next year. Lunchtime is not simply a break; it is an essential part of the school day, allowing students to eat properly, socialise, recharge and return to afternoon lessons ready to learn.”
They added the the current lunchtime period was already challenging for many pupils, as food queues could be long, leaving some youngsters with limited time to eat, while they also needed time to use toilet facilities, refill water bottles and take a meaningful break.
Tapton has been listed by the Sunday Times as one of the UK’s best comprehensives schools.