Support is rising rapidly for a petition demanding the government reduce the school week to four days. Within 24 hours, the petition gained more than 50,000 signatures, forcing the Department for Education to respond, and raising hopes of a parliamentary debate if it reaches the 100,000 mark.
Petition Gains Rapid Momentum
The online petition, created by Steve Smith, calls for the government to require all schools in England to reduce the week from five days to four, extending each day by an hour to maintain learning time. With 64,733 signatures already recorded, campaigners believe it could cross 100,000 signatures, a milestone that would likely trigger a debate in Parliament.
Why Parents and Teachers Want Change
The petition reflects growing concerns over work-life balance, teacher shortages, and student wellbeing. Proponents argue that a compressed school week would allow teachers to prepare lessons more effectively and reduce stress for pupils, without sacrificing classroom hours.
The US Example: Thousands of Schools Already Shifted
While the five-day week is standard in the UK, over 2,100 public schools in 26 US states have already adopted a four-day school week. According to The Texas Tribune, the number in Texas alone has jumped from just 30 schools in 2020-21 to more than 500 by 2024-25.
Where implemented, the results have been striking. Schools reported a surge in teacher applications and positive responses from parents who appreciated the flexibility.
Experiments in England Already Underway
In England, a few schools are already trialling new timetables. At Liberty Woodland School, pupils aged 4 to 16 attend from 8.30am to 4.40pm, Monday to Thursday, with no school on Fridays. Teachers still work on Fridays, using the day for lesson planning, marking, and online student support.
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Founder Leanna Barrett said: “It’s an opportunity for children to explore their passions. The world has changed drastically. I feel as though school has not kept up with that. We need to have a better work-life balance.”
Addressing the Teacher Recruitment Crisis
The petition also ties into the UK’s teacher recruitment and retention crisis. According to OECD data, UK retention rates are among the worst of 20 major countries studied, with nearly one in ten qualified teachers leaving the profession in 2022-23.
The average full-time teacher works 52 hours a week during term time, and many feel overburdened. Campaigners argue that without changes to workload, the government’s pledge to recruit 6,500 new teachers will be extremely difficult to meet.
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Schools Offering Creative Incentives
Some schools are already experimenting with incentives to keep teachers motivated.
- All Saints Catholic College in West London gives teachers two free periods a week for rest.
- Dixons Academies Trust, which operates 16 schools, has introduced a nine-day fortnight to ease staff workload.
Such measures highlight the urgent need for systemic reform, campaigners say.
Calls from Teacher Unions
Daniel Kebede, head of the National Education Union (NEU) with over half a million members, has spoken in favour of giving teachers more flexibility. He suggested staggered start times and remote planning days, saying these changes would help avoid burnout:
“Does a physics teacher need to be in at 8am in the morning? Timetabling can allow for staggered starts. We need to trust teachers to do their work rather than forcing them to be on-site unnecessarily.”
Four-Day Week Campaign Voices Support
The 4 Day Week Campaign, led by Joe Ryle, strongly backs the petition. He believes such a move could help tackle recruitment challenges:
“A four-day week for teachers could solve the severe recruitment and retention crisis being faced in our schools. Unless we tackle work-life balance for teachers, the government’s pledge to recruit thousands more teachers will be meaningless.”
What Happens Next?
If the petition crosses 100,000 signatures, it is likely to trigger a formal debate in Parliament. While a debate doesn’t guarantee immediate change, it will force MPs and ministers to publicly respond to the idea of a shorter school week, keeping pressure on the Department for Education.
FAQs: UK Four-Day School Week Petition
Q1: How many signatures does the petition currently have?
A1: As of now, the petition has 64,733 signatures and is rapidly growing toward the 100,000 target needed for a parliamentary debate.
Q2: What exactly does the petition demand?
A2: It calls for schools to reduce the school week to four days while extending each day by an hour to maintain learning hours.
Q3: Have other countries adopted four-day school weeks?
A3: Yes, more than 2,100 public schools in the USA have moved to a four-day week, with notable success in recruitment and student wellbeing.
Q4: Why is there support for this change in the UK?
A4: Supporters argue it would improve teacher work-life balance, reduce stress for students, and help tackle recruitment and retention issues.
Q5: Will the government be forced to act if the petition hits 100,000 signatures?
A5: Reaching 100,000 signatures would prompt a debate in Parliament, though any legislative changes would depend on government response and public pressure.
