The Government has formally rejected calls to introduce a four-day school week across England, following a petition that garnered more than 125,000 signatures and triggered a parliamentary debate.
Minister Dismisses "Appealing" Idea Over Learning Fears
Responding to the debate in Westminster Hall, Children's Minister Josh MacAlister acknowledged the idea was "appealing" but firmly dismissed it. He argued that compressing the school week would undermine pupil learning and place unnecessary strain on families trying to manage childcare.
Mr MacAlister stated that schools need sufficient time to deliver the curriculum to a high standard while also providing breaks and enrichment activities. "Shortening the school week would upset this balance," he said, adding that it would squeeze out valuable time for school clubs, sport and homework.
Government Commits to 32.5-Hour Minimum Week
The minister reiterated the Government's commitment to a minimum school week of 32.5 hours for all state-funded mainstream schools, a standard recently restated. He emphasised that meeting this expectation is "essential to delivering fairness and high standards for every child."
While ruling out a mandatory shorter week, Mr MacAlister noted that published guidance encourages schools to consider extending their hours beyond the minimum to best support pupil development.
Teacher Workload and Wider Concerns Addressed
On the related issue of teacher workload, the minister pointed to recent survey data suggesting teachers are working fewer hours than in recent years. He admitted more work was needed to ensure teaching remains a balanced, long-term career but said "positive progress is being made."
During the debate on 5th January 2026, MPs raised several concerns beyond curriculum delivery, including:
- Increased childcare pressures for parents if the school week were reduced by a day.
- Potential negative impacts on children's mental health, referencing isolation during the pandemic.
- Worries that longer school days could be overly tiring and reduce time for homework or exam revision.
The petition, which compelled the Government response, had proposed making each school day one hour longer to accommodate a four-day week. However, the minister's conclusive statement left no room for the policy's adoption, affirming the Government has no plans to change the current setup of the five-day school week.
