Tens of thousands demand schools switch to four-day weeks to boost teachers - The Mirror

On Monday MPs will debate calls for schools to switch to a four-day week after more than 126,000 people signed a petition demanding the change, which supporters say will help recruit teachers

Schools should switch to four day weeks by making days an hour longer, tens of thousands of voters have demanded.

On Monday MPs will hear calls for the landmark change after a petition attracted over 126,000 signatures. But the Department for Education (DfE) says it has no intention of making the controversial move.

Supporters claim four-day weeks would make it easier to recruit and retain teachers. However the Government argues it would have a damaging impact on parents, who would be forced to make alternative arrangements.

The demand will be debated in Westminster Hall due to the large number of people who signed. The petition, created by a man named Steve Smith, 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."

Joe Ryle, director of the 4 Day Week Campaign, which champions shorter working hours without pay cuts, urged MPs to get behind it.

He said previously: "A four-day week for teachers could solve the severe recruitment and retention crisis being faced in our schools. Unless we tackle work-life balance for teachers, the government's pledge to recruit 6,500 more teachers in England will be meaningless."

But the Government has ruled out making the change. In its response, the DfE said state-funded mainstream schools are expected to provide at least 32 hours and 30 minutes per week.

It said: "Reducing the school week to four days whilst still delivering the minimum expectation would mean a minimum school day of over 8 hours. Schools would have to deliver an additional one hour and 38 minutes per day across the four days to meet the weekly minimum requirement.

"Reducing the school week would also have a damaging impact on parents, many of whom would need to make additional arrangements for childcare, reduce their working hours or potentially leave the workforce altogether. This would in turn put families under financial strain and have a damaging effect on the country’s economy."