A CAMPAIGN group has urged the Education Secretary to pilot a four-day school week.
The 4 Day Week Foundation hopes the move will promote wellbeing among teachers and boost recruitment and retention.
Writing to the education secretary Bridget Phillipson MP, the group cited studies showing a shortened week would reduce “burn out.”
Reduced weekly hours could also help improve productivity and promote a better work-life balance.
It’s hoped the introduction of a four-day week would ease pressure on staff already struggling with their workload.
The group is urging the government to introduce the measure without impacting the pay of staff.
They say they are aiming to bring in a 32-hour working week with a number of different models already in the works.
The foundation’s campaign manager James Reeves said: “Teachers are burning out at unprecedented rates.
“A four-day week isn’t about doing less – it’s about working smarter, protecting staff wellbeing, and ultimately improving outcomes for students.”
Online, the organisation says it is “campaigning across the UK for a four-day, 32-hour working week with no loss of pay for workers.”
The move is aimed at tackling the mounting pressure of heavy teacher workloads, persistent pupil absences and widening attainment gaps.
According to the Department for Education as many teachers left the profession last year as entered it.
It comes amid a backdrop of struggling staff and increasingly demanding workloads.
Some schools in the UK have already begun experimenting with shorter school weeks.
These include four-day weeks, 4.5 day weeks and a nine-day fortnight.
However the government’s recent response to the curriculum and assessment review seemed to suggest a diversion from the standard five day week was off the table.
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “This government is restoring teaching as the highly valued profession it should be.
“Last year saw one of the lowest rates of teachers leaving the profession since 2010 and we remain committed to tackling recruitment and retainment challenges.
“We support schools in offering their staff flexible working whilst ensuring every child receives brilliant teaching for the full school week.
“That’s why we are funding a programme to embed flexible working within schools and expand these opportunities.
“We’re already seeing thousands more teachers in secondary and special schools in England compared to last year and we will continue to work with teachers as partners in the push for better, looking for new ways to ensure we can keep more talented teachers in the classroom, so every child can achieve and thrive.”
