These procedures must be read in conjunction with the Configuration of the School Day in Public Schools policy.
2. Scope
These procedures apply to all principals in public schools and directors of education.
3. Procedures
3.1 Setting the configuration of the school day for a new school
The principal will:
- confirm that the configuration of the school day:
- provides the required minimum hours of instruction
- considers the start, finish and duration of recess and lunch breaks for students
- addresses duty of care and risk management requirements
- whenever possible, schedule school start and finish times within the school zone times for the school’s location
- consider local factors that may impact on the configuration of the school day
- consult with the school board or council, the school community and other schools in the area on the configuration of the school day
- if required, consult with the providers of dedicated school transport services regarding service timetables
- give the school community notice of the configuration of the school day.
Guidance
The Department of Education’s School hours website provides information about configuration of the school day.
| Location | Hours of operation |
| Gascoyne, Pilbara | 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. |
| Kimberley | 7:00 to 8.30 a.m. and 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. |
| Carnarvon | 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. |
| Rest of WA | 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. and 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. |
These times are expected where school zone signage is installed and strongly recommended for other schools.
Considerations for the school day include:
- the start and finish times of nearby schools
- out of school hours care services
- seasonal weather variations.
When determining the school start and finish times, duty of care and risk management considerations may include:
- consultation with Western Australian Police regarding the impact on the rostering of crossing attendants and any increase in the cost of this service
- arrangements for the supervision of students until the normal school start time, if students enter the school premises
- arrangements for the supervision of students after the normal school finish time, if students do not leave the school premises.
The Director General determines term dates and the days in each year on which schools are to be open for the instruction of students. These dates are published in the Government Gazette and on the Department of Education Term Dates website.
3.2 Changing the configuration of the school day
The principal will:
- confirm that the change to the configuration of the school day continues to:
- comply with the minimum hours of instruction
- address duty of care and risk management requirements
- consider the school zone times for the school’s location
- consult with the school board or council, the school community and other schools in the area prior to changing the configuration of the school day
- if required, consult with the providers of dedicated school transport services regarding service timetables
- give the school community reasonable notice of the change to the school day.
Guidance
Wherever possible, changes to the school day are made from the beginning of a school year with a minimum of 6 months’ notice to the school community.
3.3 Temporary change to the school day: reporting to parents sessions and school development days
The principal will:
- schedule temporary changes to the school day for reporting to parents sessions and flexible school development days each year in consultation with school staff and the school board or council
- give the school community reasonable notice of a scheduled change to the school day for:
- reporting to parents
- a school development day
- record the temporary change to the school day in the school’s administrative system
- advise the director of education of any changes to the duration of reporting to parents from the previous year.
Guidance
All public schools have the flexibility to schedule up to 2 full days each year for reporting to parents. Refer to Plan for changes to the school day for the purpose of reporting (link for internal staff use only) for information about managing reporting to parents sessions.
This is in addition to the Schools General Agreement 2023 Clause 9.5(a) - Teachers are required to conduct up to 2 formal interviews/meetings with parents/carers outside the Normal School Day or Normal Operating Hours each year to discuss students’ progress.
The Department of Education’s School hours website provides general information about school development days. Refer to Plan school development days (link for internal staff use only) for information about managing school development days.
Refer to Record student attendance (link for internal staff use only) for instructions and appropriate codes for a temporary change to the school day.
3.4 Temporary school closure: proclaimed regional public holiday
The principal will:
- provide the school community with reasonable notice that the school will be closed on the date of a proclaimed regional public holiday
- record the temporary school closure in the school’s administrative system.
Guidance
Some regional areas in Western Australia hold the King’s Birthday public holiday on an alternative proclaimed date, usually to coincide with a significant date or event for that area.
The dates of regional public holidays can be found at Public holidays in Western Australia.
Schools in these areas will not be closed when the King’s Birthday public holiday is observed in the rest of Western Australia.
Refer to Record student attendance (link for internal staff use only) for instructions and appropriate codes for the school closure on the regional public holiday.
3.5 Temporary school closure: emergency or incident
The principal will:
- manage an emergency or incident in accordance with the Incident Management on Department of Education Sites policy and Incident Management Manual (link for internal staff use only)
- if required, record a temporary school closure in the school’s administrative system.
4. Definitions
School day is a gazetted term date on which the school is open for providing instruction to students.
Hours of instruction is the amount of time students receive instruction in a school. It does not include recess or lunch breaks, or learning time outside of school, such as time for homework, tutoring, training for sports teams, music and drama rehearsals.
5. Related documents
Incident Management Manual (link for internal staff use only)
6. Contact information
Policy manager: Assistant Executive Director, Public Schools Planning
Policy contact officer: Manager, Schooling Planning
7. History of changes
| Effective date | Last update date | Procedure version no. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 February 2026 | 1.0 | ||
| Policy and procedures submitted to the DG for approval 23 January 2026 - D26/0061103 | |||
8. More information
This procedure:
Configuration of the School Day in Public Schools procedures v1.0
Please ensure you also download the policy supported by this procedure.
Supported policy:
Configuration of the School Day in Public Schools policy
Procedure review date
3 February 2029