A SCHOOL is considering shortening its lunch period and finishing earlier.

Wallingford School has written to parents, inviting them to share opinions on the potential changes to the timetable.

Posting on the school's website on Friday, headteacher John Marston said: "We are reviewing the structure of our school day.

"There is no proposal to change the length of lessons but we are considering reducing the length of lunchtimes to perhaps 45 minutes.

"It is now very unusual to have a 60 minute lunch break in schools and there is a feeling amongst staff that the last 15 minutes can drift somewhat."

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Mr Marston said it was 'essential' for pupils to have time to eat, have a break and socialise but that 45 minutes is arguably 'ample time in which to do this'.

He stressed that he was keen to hear views from parents.

The message continued: "If we were to alter the length of lunch times then we would need to consider the overall timings of the school day, and a consequence may well be that we finish the school day either 10 or 15 minutes earlier.

"This would certainly be advantageous for fixtures, practices and rehearsals, particularly in the winter months."

The school will now seek feedback from parents and pupils before considering whether or not to bring in the changes.

Several Oxfordshire schools have made changes to their day recently.

After February half term, Aureus School in Didcot introduced an earlier finish from Monday-Thursday and a longer day on Fridays.

It shaved time off of assembly, break and lunch to allow for extra lessons.