CHANGES to school hours meaning youngsters will finish lessons earlier have prompted concerns from parents.

From September, students at the John of Gaunt School and Clarendon College in Trowbridge will be finishing their school day as early as 2.35pm.

Some parents have welcomed the changes but others are worried they will have no control over where their children are while they are at work.

Lorna Sturrock, of Church Street, Hilperton, has a 13-year-old son, Rory, at the John of Gaunt School and a daughter, Anna-Marie, who is due to start in September.

She said: "I would worry about what they are doing after school and where they are while I am at work. If they are at school I know they are safe."

Another parent, whose 13-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter are pupils at Clarendon College, said: "I work until 4pm, which works out fine because I get home at the same time as the kids. I think this is disgusting. They are only doing it for themselves and for the teachers."

She said the situation will be made more difficult by lessons finishing at different times on different days, at 2.35pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and 3.05pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The decision to change the hours was made in response to research that states it will lead to improvements in children's concentration levels and behaviour.

Andy Packer, headteacher at the John of Gaunt School, said: "There are so many positives to this. The main reason for doing it is that we want John of Gaunt, in partnership with Clarendon, St Augustine's and other schools in the area, to be leading the way nationally in learning initiatives."

To tackle worries about youngsters being left either home alone or out on the streets after lessons finish both schools will run a wide range of free after-school activities, including homework clubs, so children can go home at the same time they always have. The schools are also in the final stages of negotiations with Wiltshire County Council to change bus timetables so children who currently get the bus can continue to do so.

Colin Kay, headteacher of the Clarendon College, said: "I understand that some parents are not happy about it.

"A lot of people do not like change but we are doing this because there are a lot of good reasons to do so and we believe it will improve learning and achievement."

Mr Kay said pupils will be consulted on the sort of after-school activities they would like to have.