4 day working week … for schools.

[AutumnIsHere21]

Inspired by another thread discussing the merits of a three day weekend and following on from the results of a study which concluded that a four day working week (for full time pay) had numerous benefits for employers and employees.

I just wondered how people would feel if schools followed suit and were only open Monday-Thursday.

Full disclosure: I’m a teacher so - obviously - would be very much in favour! 😆

That's a non-starter, though, as it means either cutting wages for individuals or massively increasing wage bills for businesses. The trials are normally in workplaces where it's tasks not hours that count, and so the idea is that people are so much better rested and happier that they are much more productive so still get done what they used to do in five days in four. It doesn't work if you need coverage for certain hours (as you do in teaching, or retail).

When reading it, I couldn’t help thinking that I’m sure many of the positive benefits of the four day week for parents were enhanced by one of the days being child free due to schools being open five days, allowing the extra day to be spent more freely.

I think this probably true, OP - I work four days a week and I always feel a bit guilty reading these studies, as I am not amazingly more productive and efficient on my four days. I always feel very much like I'm scrambling to just about get things done. But then I'm not more rested either, as I spend my fifth day with a two year rather than chillaxing... I also do think some of it wears off the longer you've been doing it - I did used to push myself more on my four days because I had been used to doing five, but now it's just my norm and I do take it for granted to an extent. I don't want to argue against a four day week - I absolutely love and deeply value mine, and because DH has the same it means we need 40% less childcare than if we both worked full-time - but I do sometimes wonder if the same results would be replicated over the longer term.

I couldn’t afford the extra childcare.

I wouldn’t mind, but I’m a SAHM and I have the financial and social resources to replace the sports, trips, visitors, assemblies etc that would presumably get trimmed to fit everything in to four days. I’m not sure it’s a great idea for eg vulnerable children.

Longer school days over 4 days and half school hols should be the way forward

I’m a teacher and work 4 days a week at the moment. Thankfully, I didn’t have to take a pay cut as I moved school.

It’s done wonders for my metal health and means that when I am in, I have more energy and manage to get more done.

Longer days and half the holidays ? What mugs are going to be working in these schools? 🤣

We have half day Friday in primary & secondary schools, used to be a Wed many many moon's ago.

I think it would be a good idea but it would need to come with less holidays. Summer holidays are too long imo. We also have 17days at Easter along with all the others.

So children would lose 8 weeks of learning a year, that they would be getting at the moment...not sure this is viable. Over the course of learning up until gcse that would be the equivalent of over 2 years of schooling lost.

What about 4 days learning with teachers and one day sports/ arts and crafts with specialist coaches and art teachers? That way everybody’s happy. It’s actually kind of what they do in private schools ( one afternoon is all games matches).

i'd vote for this

The government won't pay the staff for longer days and less holidays.

The government won't pay teachers for what they currently do, they want the money to come out of school budgets for other stuff, like support staff, or urgent building work.

Absolutely. Hence my classroom having a broken door, two broken lights and a curtain that fell off the way onto a child.

I would be more than happy with this set up however I think the school holidays would have to be shortened. There’s no way they can fit in the curriculum and if kids have a longer weekend could they go longer between the holidays?

@Spraylatter the holidays would have to be shortened by 8 weeks

This is what I have said on here, twice, but everyone's ignoring me. Bit like school then, really.

Ooh, I've got a broken blind that fell off onto a child and now won't open so always dark, and broken heating so it's really cold.

My door works though, so it seems I'm winning.

It's a great idea - I work in primary 1 and by a Friday most kids are shattered however extra hours on the 4 days wouldn't suit either - ours finish at 2.45 and that's plenty so I don't know that it's workable to fit everything in

Who do you propose pay for that, though? Teacher workload is such, curriuclum wise, that on that day they would still either be in school or at home doing prep and planning, meetings & parent phone calls. So they'd need paying for that. The specialist sports staff etc would also need paying for. Schools don't have any money as it is. I don't think anyone would be happy really. The curriculum would have to be altered to fit into 4 days and if it doesn't decrease then you'd just end up with stressed children having to get through the same stuff in 4 days as they used to do in 5.

Much of Scotland does this too - we have Friday afternoons off (finish at 12)

Schools should be open 7 days a week. (note that I am not saying that Teachers should work 7 days a week, they should work 5 days a week on a rota). And they should be open from 6am-10pm. (teachers should work 8 hours a day).

@Florenz Sign me up. I'd love to work only 8 hours a day.

Yes indeed - and I said it’s actually happening near me. I visited the school this week in a professional capacity and they were so excited about it. They know it’s a gamble in terms of long-term budget but they are hoping that the improved wellbeing for staff will mean lower supply costs (and the cost of supply is still higher than the wage increases required overall, they reckon).

I work 4 days and it's amazing. The last thing I want is having the kids here ruining my precious alone time 😄

Wetheringsett Manor school was involved in the trial. Of course the school would still be open 5 days a week. Lots of different companies were involved in the trial, it is hard to see the negatives of staff having more energy and enthusiasm for their role in 4 days. I guess it is financially hard to balance in a school, though as a PP said probably less need to pay for supply for burnt out staff!