A group campaigning for a four-day working week has urged the education secretary to allow schools more freedom to pilot shorter weeks for teachers.
The 4 Day Week Foundation says the aim is to improve wellbeing and boost recruitment and retention.
In a letter to Bridget Phillipson MP, the group highlights research showing shorter working weeks can reduce burnout, improve productivity, and support better work-life balance.
Such benefits are particularly critical in a sector grappling with unprecedented pressure on staff.
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.”
On its website, the organisation said it is “campaigning across the UK for a four-day, 32-hour working week with no loss of pay for workers”.
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The letter comes after Scottish education secretary Jenny Gilruth announced new proposals last week for teachers to be able to work a “flexible” four-day teaching week.
This comes against the backdrop of an education sector struggling with heavy teacher workload, persistent pupil absence and widening attainment gaps.
The situation is even more concerning, according to the Department for Education, as last year nearly as many teachers left the profession in England as entered it.
What do parents think about the idea?
Emma, from Greenwich, southeast London, who is a parent to a 15-year-old, told Sky News: “As parents of a child currently in his first year of GCSE studies, we would have significant concerns if teachers were to transition to a four-day working week.
“Our primary worry is whether the curriculum could be delivered with sufficient depth and consistency to ensure that students do not miss essential content needed for their examinations.
“We are already experiencing a lack of continuity in core subjects due to the frequent use of substitute teachers.
“This inconsistency raises further questions about the potential impact that reduced teaching days could have on students’ learning and overall academic outcomes.”
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But Clare, from Suffolk, who is a parent of a 14-year-old son, told Sky News she was not concerned about any inconsistency that may arise with a four-day week for teachers.
She said: “I have enough faith that most teachers go into the profession because they are capable professionals with passion for their subject.
“Also, managing several styles of learning between teachers might be valuable – I’d just sooner have teachers that aren’t burnt out.”
Read more:
Shake-up in England schools to cut GCSE exam time
Proposals for Scotland to move to four-day teaching weeks
Trials already under way
Some schools in the UK have already begun experimenting with shorter school weeks, including four-day weeks, 4.5 day weeks and a nine-day fortnight.
Matthew, a parent of three boys aged seven, four, and one, from north London, told Sky News: “Lots of teachers already work part-time and it is a good way to keep people in the profession.
“Children are used to this already.”
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The government’s recent response to the curriculum and assessment review suggested schools would not be allowed to divert from the standard five-day school week.
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.”
