The last week of school: clarity and QTU action
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 129 No 8, 1 November 2024, page no. 10
As we approach the end of the school year, many members remain uncertain about how to manage the final week − Week 40 or Week 41, depending on your school’s location.
For schools in regional, rural, and remote areas, which finish a week earlier, Week 40 serves as the final week, while others work through to Week 41.
At the end of Term 3, members began raising concerns about this additional week, despite earlier assurances from the Minister for Education regarding a flexible approach, focusing on student engagement, cultural activities, and wellbeing.
It is important to note that teachers and school leaders last worked a 41-week year in 2018, and many members are understandably seeking clearer guidance on how to manage this extra week. The QTU, however, is under orders from the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC), which prevent it from issuing a directive on Week 40/41. Despite this, the QTU has been actively advocating for more concrete direction from the Department of Education.
Several months ago, we pressed the department to provide detailed advice to school leaders on managing this final week. The department’s stance is that principals have the discretion to develop an alternative program for the last week of the school year that suits their local community’s needs. School leaders have been advised that, while the final week should be treated as a regular week, they have flexibility to implement alternative programs. Principals are encouraged to consult with their school supervisors if they require further clarification.
Additionally, the QTU sought clarification of teacher-aide hours for the final week of school. The department confirmed that teacher-aides should only be rostered for their ordinary hours and are not required to work the additional 12.5 per cent component normally applied. If additional hours are needed for duties such as before and after-school supervision, principals may offer extra hours (with prior approval), which would either be paid as overtime or compensated through time off in lieu (TOIL).
For schools in regional, rural, and remote areas, Week 40 is essentially their Week 41, and the same approach applies.
To assist members in preparing for the final week, the QTU has suggested the following framework for communicating with school communities.
- Schools will remain open during the last week (whether Week 40 or Week 41), with an alternative program in place.
- Transition activities, graduations, and celebrations should be completed by Week 40 (2-6 December).
- The final week can be used for teacher planning and preparation for the implementation of the new Australian Curriculum in 2025.
While this provides a general outline, the QTU continues to advocate for clearer, more consistent advice from the department, ensuring that school leaders and teachers receive the support they need to balance workload with student needs during the extended school year.
Looking further ahead, the 2027 school year will feature an irregular term structure, with Term 1 lasting nine weeks and Term 2 lasting 11 weeks. This shift disrupts the standard 10-week term format, prompting the QTU to push for a legislated 40-week school year as part of our 2024 State Election Asks, to provide stability for both staff and students.