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You might think that all States primary schools had to offer the same amount of teaching - but new figures suggest some children get more than two weeks extra tuition time a year than others, with the fee paying primaries sometimes offering less time in the classroom.
A recent response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request revealed a difference of more than two hours per week – or 25 minutes per day – in teaching time between primary schools.
The FOI, which did not include Beaulieu and De La Salle, showed that the majority of the island’s 24 States-funded schools have around five hours of daily teaching time.
Nonetheless, hours varied widely between the top and bottom rankers.
Children at St Luke's and Mont Nicolle – both States schools – were found to enjoy the most per day, averaging five hours and 19 minutes from Reception to Year 6. Janvrin came in shortly after at five hours and 12 minutes per day.
Private schools JCG Prep and Victoria College Prep ranked lowest on the list at four hours 54 minutes on average of taught class time daily.
While the FOI response was based on data for the 2017/2018 academic year, the results showed that – if the teaching times were to remain consistent – children at St Luke's and Mont Nicolle would gain more than a term in extra learning time than the bottom four schools over the course of their academic lives at that school.
Although top of the learning stakes, St Luke's loses out on lunchbreak time. It was at the bottom of the list, with only 55 minutes allocated to food and recreation breaks.
Children at Bel Royal, meanwhile, shot to the top with one hour and 25 minutes – half an hour more than St Luke’s pupils.
The four schools with the lowest levels of teaching time had breaks of around one hour 15 minutes.
A spokesperson for the Education Department commented: "The hours teachers work is set out in their terms and conditions of employment. Within that, Head teachers have the flexibility to arrange the school day in the way that best suits their community and enables them to deliver the Jersey Curriculum.
"Some variation is entirely appropriate provided the children receive sufficient teaching and are able to learn effectively."
Daily teaching times: The full primary school rankings*
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