Campaigners are urging the government to trial a four-day working week in schools across England and Wales, arguing the move could ease teacher burnout, improve staff retention and ultimately benefit students.
In a letter to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, the 4 Day Week Foundation called for pilot schemes to test a reduced school week. The group said the teaching profession is facing “unprecedented” levels of stress and warned the government is unlikely to meet its target of recruiting 6,500 new teachers without major reform, as vacancies hit record highs earlier this year.
“Teachers are burning out at unprecedented rates,” said James Reeves, campaign manager at the foundation. “A four-day week isn’t about doing less – it’s about working smarter, protecting staff wellbeing and improving outcomes for students. It’s time for bold leadership and evidence-driven trials to show what a modern, sustainable education system could look like.”
Growing support – but government resistance
The call comes amid mounting concern about recruitment and retention across the education sector. While the idea has gained traction among campaigners and some unions, the government has so far shown little appetite for change. In response to a recent parliamentary petition, ministers said they have no plans to move away from the five-day school week, citing the importance of regular attendance for children’s education, wellbeing and parental employment.
Some experts have also raised concerns about how parents would manage childcare if schools moved to a shorter week.
Who is backing the idea?
The 4 Day Week Foundation is one of several organisations pushing for change, arguing that improving teachers’ wellbeing and productivity would have knock-on benefits for pupils.
The National Education Union (NEU) has made related proposals, suggesting full-time teachers should be allowed to work one day a week from home to manage planning and marking. The union’s general secretary, Daniel Kebede, said the long hours teachers work are driven by workload pressures rather than time spent in the classroom.
“Just because a teacher is not in front of a classroom does not mean they are not working,” he said previously. “That is a myth that needs exploding.”
The Alex Ferry Foundation, which focuses on improving working lives, has also backed a four-day week for teachers, citing excessive stress and workloads.
Alternative models already in use
Campaigners point to examples where shorter or more flexible weeks are already in place. The Autonomy Institute has advocated for a four-and-a-half-day week, highlighting schools run by the Community Schools Trust in east London that finish early on Fridays. Longer days earlier in the week offset the change, while teachers gain extra non-teaching time for preparation or rest.
Reeves said schools in the trust achieve some of the highest attainment rates for disadvantaged students.
Elsewhere, Liberty Woodland, a small independent school in south London, operates a four-day pupil week with slightly longer days, giving teachers a full day for administration or online support.
The Autonomy Institute also argues that any move towards a four-day week should be accompanied by policies to ensure childcare and unpaid care work are shared more equally between men and women.
Concerns over childcare
Opponents of a four-day school week often point to the potential burden on working parents. However, campaigners say schools that have adopted shorter weeks report that families have largely adapted after initial concerns.
“Despite worries about childcare, schools we’ve spoken to say parents have managed to make it work,” Reeves said.
Elsewhere in the UK
In Scotland, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth outlined proposals last November for a “new deal” for teachers, including reducing classroom time while maintaining or improving outcomes for pupils. This could include a more flexible four-day teaching model, though the plans remain at an early stage and unions have questioned how they would work in practice.
Wales continues to operate a five-day school week, though it has been included in the 4 Day Week Foundation’s call for pilots. There is currently no significant push for change in Northern Ireland.
Pressure from retention and pay concerns
Unions say the debate is taking place against a backdrop of worsening retention. In November, the NEU announced plans for an indicative ballot on potential strike action over pay and funding, warning that proposed pay rises without additional funding would deepen existing problems.
International data also paints a bleak picture. Research from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development showed that England had one of the worst teacher retention rates in the developed world in 2023, with almost one in ten teachers leaving the profession.
Official figures suggest full-time teachers work an average of 52 hours a week during term time, with many regularly working evenings and weekends to keep up with marking and lesson planning.
Government stance unchanged
Despite growing calls for reform, the government’s position remains firm. Responding to a petition signed by more than 125,000 people, ministers said there are “no plans to reduce the school week to four days,” emphasising that regular attendance is vital for children’s education, wellbeing and long-term development.
For now, campaigners say they will continue pressing for pilot schemes, arguing that without bold changes, the pressures driving teachers out of the profession are unlikely to ease.
