A lot of us at Havant and South Downs College (HSDC) are really worried about the proposed timetable changes. For many students, the current schedule is a routine which we are now used to. Furthermore,  it's what helps us manage lessons, part‑time jobs, family responsibilities, and everything else going on in our lives.

What makes this even more frustrating is that many of us chose HSDC based on what we were told back in Year 11. One of the big selling points was the 10am start, something that genuinely influenced people’s decisions about which college to join. But when we actually started our first year, that changed to 9:40. And now we’re hearing it might shift again to 9:15 next year. That’s not what we were promised, and it’s definitely not what students want or need. It feels unfair to keep moving the goalposts after we’ve already committed.

Changing the college hours again would seriously impact  the routines we’ve built up. New or unpredictable timetables can make things way more stressful, which can affect our mental health and how well we do in class. Plus, many of us rely on specific buses or trains, and even small changes could mean longer journeys, awkward timings, or extra costs.

There’s also research, like studies from The Dartmouth Institute, showing that students do better when their schedules stay consistent. Messing with that stability could make learning harder for everyone.

We understand that sometimes changes have to happen. But it’s really important that the college talks to students first, listens to our concerns, and looks at other options. Working with student reps could help find solutions that work for both the college and the people who actually have to live with the timetable.

We’re asking HSDC to rethink or pause the proposed changes and work with us to find a better way forward. If you want to help protect the routine that so many of us rely on, please sign this petition.