A prominent campaign group is urging the government to allow schools in England and Wales to pilot a four-day working week, arguing it is essential to address a deepening crisis in teacher recruitment and retention.
The Push for Flexible Working in Schools
The 4 Day Week Foundation has written directly to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, calling for greater autonomy for headteachers to trial shorter working weeks. The group contends that the government will be unable to meet its manifesto pledge of recruiting 6,500 new teachers without significant change.
This move follows a recent announcement from the Scottish government, which unveiled proposals for a 'flexible' four-day teaching week. Under the Scottish plan, teachers would spend one day a week focused on tasks like lesson preparation and marking, away from the classroom.
James Reeves, Campaign Manager for the 4 Day Week Foundation, stated: "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."
Addressing a Sector Under Pressure
The foundation's letter highlights a growing body of research suggesting shorter weeks can reduce burnout and improve productivity. This is seen as particularly vital for an education sector grappling with severe staff shortages and workload pressures.
Earlier this year, teacher vacancies in England hit a record high. Research has pointed to worsening pupil behaviour and larger class sizes as key factors exacerbating teacher workload since the pandemic. According to the Department for Education's own figures, nearly as many teachers left the profession in England as entered it last year.
The campaigners argue that schools should be empowered to test different timetables, including controlled four-day week trials. This would provide relief for staff and generate evidence on how such changes might affect teaching quality and school performance.
"Headteachers don't need government permission to explore new working arrangements," said Reeves. "Legally, they have the flexibility to proceed. We must find solutions to the recruitment and retention crisis so young people can have some stability in their schools."
Government Stance and Existing Experiments
Current government guidance for England states that all state-funded schools should be open for five full days each week. While the government has expressed support for more flexible working patterns, it has resisted formal implementation of a four-day teaching week.
A Department for Education spokesperson responded: "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 while ensuring every child receives brilliant teaching for the full school week."
Despite the official position, some UK schools have already begun experimenting with shorter weeks, including four-day weeks, 4.5-day weeks, and a nine-day fortnight. The issue of workload and contact hours is also a major point of contention in Scotland, where teachers have been balloted for strike action.
The debate continues as unions and campaigners push for systemic change to safeguard the future of the teaching profession and the quality of education.
