*** Please only sign this petition if you are a pupil or a parent at Harlington Upper School, UK ***

Whilst we recognize the importance of after school activities for children's socialization, we do not believe the implementation of 2 hours of mandatory Enrichment at Harlington Upper School, Bedfordshire, UK, is beneficial to pupils.

1. An hour has been taken out of all pupil's weekly academic calendar

Surely this is completely counter-productive in light of the recent COVID home-schooling situation. Pupils need more not less educational support.

2. An hour has been added to all pupils' school day on a Wednesday

Many students have a full agenda of after school activities, including sports clubs, part time jobs, driving lessons, family commitments etc.

Even if an activity doesn't specifically clash with Enrichment on a Wednesday, as parents we have already planned both activity and free time into our children's week.

Adding an obligatory activity on a Wednesday may well mean pupils need to sacrifice an activity that they really enjoy or is fundamental to their future career prospects.

3. The Enrichment curriculum does not include any Study Support sessions

We feel that students need academic help to catch up on missed tuition, not forced social activities. The Enrichment program does not contain an option to receive additional academic support or spend the time revising. After the impact of missing a large proportion of school, surely this would be the first concern of any school.

4. Parents were not properly consulted about this change of agenda

The school's Enrichment proposal was included in a weekly School Newsletter. Such an important change to the school curriculum should have required an official consultation period.

The question of mask wearing at school - before it was law - was permitted its own email communication and a survey. Why were we not granted the same level of consultation for Enrichment ?

5. Some pupils have been granted exceptions and do not need to attend Enrichment

We would like to know why one after-school activity is more important than another. Why is downtime not viewed as critical, especially in light of potential mental health issues that pupils may have experienced during COVID? Why is a request to spend this time revising for A'Levels not viewed as an 'exceptional circumstance'?

6. Parents who feel strongly about their child not attending Enrichment have been threatened with pupil expulsion and a negative student record passed to universities

We do not feel this is in any way fair to pupils who are achieving extremely good academic grades and are otherwise exemplary to suffer because they prefer to study or engage in their chosen after school activity, instead of joining the Enrichment program.

We request that the Enrichment program at Harlington Upper School, Bedfordshire, UK be optional.