Schools will be asked to offer at least a 32.5-hour school week by September 2023, under the government’s forthcoming White Paper, it was revealed today.
The Department for Education has acknowledged that most schools already provide this but says there is disparity across the country, which this move will address.
However, school leaders have questioned the plan and urged the government not to rush into changes.
In an interview with the Mail on Sunday after the announcement was made education secretary Nadhim Zahawi said that “currently 14 per cent of primary and secondary schools across England have school weeks shorter than 32 hours.”
The announcement follows controversy last year after the government failed to back proposals from then education recovery commissioner Sir Kevan Collins to extend the school day.
He had presented a £15 billion Covid recovery plan last year but resigned after it was not supported by ministers.
DfE sets minimum length of school week
The government is set to make two major education policy announcements in the next few days with a schools White Paper being published on Monday and the long-awaited SEND Green Paper a day later.
The DfE has said the White Paper “will set out how the system will drive up standards to make sure children and young people can fulfil their full potential in the classroom”.
It said this will build on the targets announced as part of its levelling up White Paper to see 90 per cent of children leaving primary school having achieved the expected standard in reading, writing and maths by 2030.
The 32.5-hour school week is equivalent to 8.45am to 3.15pm, Monday to Friday.
In a statement, the DfE said: “Most school weeks across primary and secondary schools nationally are already this length, but there is discrepancy across the country.
“A child who receives 20 minutes less of teaching time per day would lose out on around two weeks of schooling per year.”
Mr Zahawi said: “Every child deserves support from excellent teachers, who, in turn, deserve to be backed by a supportive and inclusive school, whether they live in Doncaster or Dartmouth, whether they plan to study T levels or A levels, whatever their background.
“Over my time as education secretary, my guiding focus has been creating opportunity for all, with strong schools and great teachers for every child. Every plan and policy I will set out in next week’s Schools White Paper works towards this goal.
“The Schools White Paper, closely followed by the SEND Green Paper, will demonstrate levelling up in action, delivering fairness for every child and making sure nobody is left behind.”
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “We are unconvinced by the benefits of introducing a minimum expectation on the length of the school week of 32.5 hours.
“The vast majority of schools already meet, or come very close to meeting, this expectation. It will be important to understand the factors which may lead to fewer hours in some schools.
“For example, it may be the case in some rural schools that start and finish times are affected by transport arrangements. Adding time on to the school week may sound straightforward, but there are many issues which need to be considered in individual schools, and we would encourage the government not to rush any changes.
“We look forward to seeing the full details of the Schools White Paper and the SEND and alternative provision Green Paper.”
Over a quarter (29 per cent) of secondary schools in the most deprived areas finish the school day before 3pm, according to a survey carried out last year by Teacher Tapp. This compares with only 13 per cent in the most affluent areas. No private schools finished before 3pm, and over a third finished after 4pm.
