The UK government is considering radical changes to the school day in England, with proposals to extend learning hours and reduce summer breaks. The move aims to help pupils catch up on lost education due to the pandemic, but has sparked fierce resistance from school leaders and unions who warn that 'tired children' would be forced to work longer hours.
Nick Gibb, schools standards minister, told the Commons education committee that he was 'open to all ideas' for supporting pupils in recovering lost lessons. He pointed out that some academies already use their autonomy to extend school hours, and acknowledged evidence suggesting learning loss during the six-week summer break.
These comments come as the government's new education recovery commissioner, Sir Kevan Collins, begins his task of overseeing the £1 billion catch-up fund, bolstered by an additional £300 million. He will review various proposals to ensure effective recovery for students, including those mentioned by Gibb.
School unions have expressed strong reservations about extending learning hours, arguing that this could lead to diminishing returns and neglect quality in favour of quantity. Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, highlighted that many schools already offer after-school activities and holiday clubs, but called for adequate funding to enable targeted support.
Nick Brook, Deputy General Secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, echoed these concerns, pointing to research indicating more effective methods for pupil support. He urged the government to prioritise expert advice over 'superficially attractive schemes'. Separate testimony to the Lords Covid-19 committee raised concerns that external initiatives might have limited impact on vulnerable pupils.
Richard Sheriff, head of the Red Kite Learning Trust, warned against imposing 'big national complex programmes' and noted a disconnect between policy and practical implementation. He pointed out that disadvantaged children within his schools had yet to benefit from the government's flagship tutoring programme.