Changes at Waitaki Boys' High School this year will not only be at the staff level.
School commissioner Nicola Hornsey surveyed pupils last year about ‘‘things they could influence'' and as a result, the schedule of five one-hour periods would be changed to six 50-minute periods so pupils could take advantage of doubled periods in the afternoon in their hands-on classes.
Late starts on Thursdays, to accommodate teacher ‘‘non-contact'' time with pupils, would also end.
‘‘The feedback - again, from the boys - was very strong that they would rather start school at the same time every day, so that's been another change,'' Ms Hornsey said.
Other changes were made ‘‘to try to reflect what the boys found frustrating''.
The ‘‘depth of feeling and devotion'' to the school by the wider community had taken her by surprise when she took on the role as commissioner.
‘‘The old boys are just so passionate about their school. . .. We tend to forget that when we're trying to deal with all these problems, there are some fantastic people there. And they keep plugging away and doing their thing, which is great.''
