EDUCATION secretary Michael Gove is calling for longer school days and shorter holidays to improve pupils’ performance.

But students and teachers at a Dartford school say they are reaping the rewards of a different approach. Sam Christie reports.

DARTFORD Grammar School is bucking the trend by shaking up its day and going against the education secretary’s ideal model.

Gove is pushing for state schools to stay open until at least 4.30pm and cut the current six-week holiday.

However, a trial into shortening the school day which began in September last year at Dartford Grammar is proving a huge hit - so much so it has been made permanent.

Deputy head teacher Robert Tibbott says the decision to finish at 3.10pm – 10 minutes earlier than normal and 20 minutes before neighbouring Dartford Grammar School for Girls in Shepherds Lane – has proved a success.

He told News Shopper: “It was really an issue of student safety.

“There’s 1,350 pupils at the grammar school and about 1,000 at the girls grammar coming out of school into the road at the same time.

“It simply was not sensible. Luckily we’ve not had any bad accidents but we didn’t want to run the risk.

“The 20-minute gap has made an amazing difference.

“Before, there was not sufficient to clear the pavements outside school. Usually there would be students fighting for space on the pavements.

“Now by 3.40pm it’s completely clear.”

The move has involved shortening morning break and assembly to ensure the regular six 50 minute lessons are fitted in.

It goes against Gove’s belief that British children will have a “significant handicap” in the future when competing against students from overseas who have been subjected to intensive teaching methods.

He claims the current education system is outdated and designed for the agricultural economy of the 1800s. But Mr Tibbott disagrees.

He said: “Of course young people need a good balance of learning and recreation, to recharge batteries and get ready for school.

“I’ve always felt we’ve probably got it right, particularly in the summer.

“We all need rest particularly when working hard. I am not advocating a dossers approach but rest is important.”

What do Dartford Grammar School students make of it?

Thomas White, 18, of East Hill, Dartford said: “I did enjoy the longer break we used to have because it gave me more time to chat to my friends and have something to eat, but the roads around the school are much less busy at the end of the day which is really helpful now I drive myself to and from school.”

Eighteen-year-old Elleanor Larson, of Church Road, Hartley, said: “I think the end of school day changes have worked really well - it's much more beneficial to have extra time for private study or other activities after school, rather than a longer break and assembly.”

Abigail Larson, 16, of Church Road, Hartley, said: “I much prefer the new system – we still get full lesson time, but also longer evenings to do private study and have some much needed relaxation.”