UK Government to debate cutting school week to just four days – but there’s a catch

There are a few countries where shorter school weeks exist, but angry teachers and parents have now flocked to proclaim their anger that the UK could shorten the school week

The UK Government will debate cutting the school week by one day, to four – but there’s a catch. A petition on the Government’s own website has now been signed by 121,155 people, breaching the threshold required to force officials to debate it.

Started by Steve Smith, the petition states: “We urge the Government to require all schools to reduce the school week to four instead of five days by making each school day one hour longer whilst requiring the school week to be four instead of five days.”

So while to many, a four-day school week seems like a good idea, an hour extra to each day would make a school day around nine hours for many – including teachers.

There is precedent, however, with some regions in France going for a four to 4.5-day week for primary schools, while Netherlands and Finland also have shorter days.

Teachers reacting to the UK petition on Reddit flocked to the comments to point out several issues with the idea.

One said: “Childcare is a massive issue. This will be a further barrier to some women returning to their careers after having children.”

And another said: “I would be all for it, as would loads of other teachers. There would be massive general public pushback as large sections of people see schools are mere childcare and teachers would be unpopular again/more-so/still.

“I don’t imagine it actually happening because education moves at a glacial pace and always does things last. If it did, I imagine schools would have to offer a 5th day open for parents who need to send their kids in. Maybe people could do it for extra pay or it’s a sports/revision thing.”

And a third said: “I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing if there was also childcare available on the fifth day. This wouldn’t cost very much if it was literally childminders. And the government would save loads of money anyway on the teacher recruitment and retention crisis.”

What do you think of the idea? Let us know in the comments below or by emailing adam.cailler@reachplc.com.

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