Changes to the School Day – Effective from today
Dear Parent / Carer,
Reminder on update to changes to the School Day
What is changing?
From today - Monday 20th April 2026, the following changes will apply:
School finishing times
- Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 2.50pm.
- Tuesday and Thursday: 3.40pm.
Lunchtime
- Lunch will be 40 minutes in duration.
- There is no reduction in teaching time.
Why is this change being made?
The primary reason for this change is to improve safety and reduce congestion at the end of the school day. Calderglen High School shares a very busy campus and surrounding road network with Sanderson High School and several local primary schools. Feedback highlighted concerns about traffic volume, pedestrian safety, and congestion during dismissal.
The revised timings create a clearer separation between school exits and are supported by additional safety and traffic management measures.
What assurances are in place?
As part of South Lanarkshire Council’s approval process, Calderglen High School has worked with key partners to ensure the change is safe and workable:
- School transport:
Bus operators have confirmed there is no impact on contracts or services and buses can collect pupils 10 minutes earlier. - Catering services:
Current queuing systems ensure pupils are served by 12.50pm, with a maximum queue time of around 20 minutes. Catering staff have confirmed that a 40-minute lunch can be managed effectively. - Crossing patrol:
The crossing patrol officer will be in place 10 minutes earlier, aligned with the new finishing times. - Sanderson High School:
Any implications with Sanderson High School have been worked through as part of the consultation.
Important information for parents and carers
As part of a strengthened Traffic Management Plan, we ask parents and carers to note:
- Parents/carers should not access school grounds to drop off or collect pupils.
- Families should use park and stride locations where possible. These locations are situated at Mull, Claremont Parish Church, and Tesco car park.
- School grounds are reserved for buses, taxis, and authorised transport only.
These measures are essential to improving safety and were a key issue raised during consultation.
Lunchtime clubs and pupil wellbeing
We recognise that lunchtime is an important part of the school day for eating, socialising and participation in clubs and supported study. The school will:
- Monitor lunchtime queues and access to food.
- Ensure lunchtime clubs and support remain in place.
- Provide additional support where pupils have medical or additional support needs.
The impact of the change will be closely monitored, and adjustments will be made where required.
Ongoing monitoring
The school will review the impact of the revised timetable during the initial implementation period, focusing on:
- Pupil safety and traffic flow.
- Lunchtime access and punctuality.
- Participation in clubs and supports.
- Pupil wellbeing.
We appreciate that changes to the school day affect family routines, and we are grateful for your engagement throughout this process. Our priority remains the safety, wellbeing and learning of our young people, and we will continue to work with families and partners to ensure this change is successful.
