All schools to be open for at least 32.5 hours each week as kids catch up on lost learning due to Covid disruption
MINISTERS are set to announce that kids will be in school for at least 32.5 hours each week to catch up from lost learning in the pandemic.
The changes are expected to be announced next week, and come after ministers were previously urged to extend school days to make up for the disruption.
Under the new plans which will come into place in September next year, schools will be allowed to set their own holiday timetable as long as it adheres to the 190 statutory minimum for teaching.
Currently there are no rules or guidance on how long schools should stay open for, and the new 32.5 hour day would mean schools opening from 8.45am to 3.15pm for five days a week.
Education chiefs insist “no child will be left behind” as currently a child who receives twenty minutes less of teaching a day will lose about two weeks of schooling per year.
Figures show that 75 per cent of schools had days that met the average length of between six hours 15 mins and six hours 35 minutes.
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By September 2023, all schools will be expected to comply with this, under plans set out by the Department for Education in a new white paper tomorrow.
The plans are expected to build on the government’s levelling up plans which aims to see 90 per cent of pupils reach expected standards in reading, writing and maths by 2030.
But head teachers and experts are said to be sceptical of the plans, saying they are looking for “more sophisticated change.”
Paul Whiteman, boss of the school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “We hope that during the year before these proposals are implemented, there can be a review of the evidence supporting this plan.
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“Simply adding five or ten minutes to a day is unlikely to bring much, if any, benefit.”
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the NEU teaching union, said: “The vast majority of schools’ days are of this length or a little more or less.
"We are looking for much more sophisticated change.”
“Where is the multifaceted recovery plan? What should happen in the extra 10-15 mins some pupils will now spend in school?”
Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, added: “The vast majority of schools already meet, or come very close to meeting, this expectation.
“It will be important to understand the factors which may lead to fewer hours in some schools.
“Adding time on to the school week may sound straightforward, but there are many issues which need to be considered in individual schools, and we would encourage the Government not to rush any changes.”
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The white paper is also expected to set out the Government’s desire for more schools to be graded as “outstanding” by Ofsted and to join multi-academy trusts.
It will detail Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi’s ambition to drive up numeracy and literacy standards in schools.
Mr Zahawi has repeated his plan to do “everything in his power” to keep schools open.
Speaking on Sunday Morning he said: "I will do everything in my power to make sure schools remain open.
“I think it was a mistake that we closed schools for the majority of children. Most children had a terrible time out of school.
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“The responsible thing to do, is if a child is unwell, they should stay at home.”
He previously said that his focus would be “creating opportunity for all” with “great teachers for every child.”