Parents in Falkirk have expressed concerns at council proposals to cut the time children spend at school.

The local authority has launched a consultation over plans to close all local schools at 12:30 on Fridays from August next year.

The council, which is currently looking to fill a £62m budget gap, said the move would save about £6m.

A petition opposing the plan has gathered more than 2,000 signatures.

Under the plan, children in primary school would spend 2.5 hours a week less in the classroom.

Secondary students would have their weekly hours cut by almost two hours.

Eight other councils – including Edinburgh – currently close their schools on Friday afternoons.

However this is balanced out by extending the school day over the rest of the week.

Falkirk mother-of-two Liane Tait, who started the petition, said: “If someone starts in P1 when this goes ahead and they finish at S6 they are going to lose a year of teaching time.

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