MPs are set to debate a radical proposal to introduce a four-day week in schools across England, following a public petition that garnered massive support.
Petition Forces Parliamentary Debate
The debate, scheduled for Monday in Westminster Hall, was triggered after a petition started by Steve Smith secured more than 126,000 signatures. The petition calls on the government to mandate that all schools reduce the week to four days, compensating by extending each school day by one hour.
Proponents argue that this structural shift is necessary to address severe staffing shortages. Joe Ryle, director of the 4 Day Week Campaign, stated that improving work-life balance is key to solving the recruitment and retention crisis. He warned that without such measures, the government's pledge to recruit an additional 6,500 teachers in England would be ineffective.
Government Rejects "Damaging" Change
The Department for Education (DfE) has already issued a firm response, ruling out the controversial move. Officials highlighted that state-funded mainstream schools are required to provide a minimum of 32 hours and 30 minutes of education per week.
To meet this requirement within a four-day framework, the DfE calculated that each school day would need to be longer than eight hours—specifically, an extra one hour and 38 minutes daily. The government's response emphasised the wider impact, stating the change would force many parents to find extra childcare, reduce their working hours, or even leave their jobs, placing families under financial strain and harming the economy.
A Clash of Visions for Education
The debate sets up a clear clash between campaigners seeking innovative solutions to a deepening workforce crisis and a government focused on maintaining the current structure. Supporters see the four-day week as a modern solution to attract and retain staff, while ministers view it as a logistically challenging and potentially damaging disruption for families.
With the petition having met the threshold for debate, MPs will now have the opportunity to discuss the merits and pitfalls of one of the most significant potential reforms to the school calendar in recent years.
