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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

4 day working week … for schools.

212 replies

AutumnIsHere21 · 04/03/2023 14:42

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! 😆

OP posts:
Unexpectedlysinglemum · 10/02/2024 23:02

A lot of private primary schools do a half day once a week

MumClaireof2 · 10/02/2024 23:28

Parker231 · 10/02/2024 22:53

Can’t see it working with parents having to spend more money on childcare for a full day on Friday as well as still paying for breakfast and after school clubs Mon - Thurs.

It gives the hours needed for a school week. Also if one parent does drop off and one does pick up it works really well. I don’t have a full day Friday of school so currently deal with this so I guess in other areas this may be different but a lot of Scotland is 9-12.30 on a Friday already.

Whitestick · 10/02/2024 23:42

What would the people running the Friday club do for the other four working days?

MumClaireof2 · 11/02/2024 00:02

Whitestick · 10/02/2024 23:42

What would the people running the Friday club do for the other four working days?

They would get easier, better jobs. Trying to find staff for these hours is really hard I’m sure. And I’m sure other businesses world pick up these clubs if needed. Such as football clubs, council run kids clubs, sporting halls etc.

Georgeandzippyzoo · 11/02/2024 00:19

I assume this has been posted because people are happy to consider it for THEIR jobs, so how would they feel if it was extended to others , including teachers?
Obviously many jobs couldn't just do 9-5, 4 days a week, and shifts etc would have to be implemented.

Whitestick · 11/02/2024 00:56

If the children are at school 9-5, and someone works 9-5, wouldn't they still need childcare? School would need to be 8.30 to 5.30 - and then there's need to be special childcare for teachers' children that was open 8-6....

MumClaireof2 · 11/02/2024 07:38

Georgeandzippyzoo · 11/02/2024 00:19

I assume this has been posted because people are happy to consider it for THEIR jobs, so how would they feel if it was extended to others , including teachers?
Obviously many jobs couldn't just do 9-5, 4 days a week, and shifts etc would have to be implemented.

Posted out of sheer frustration as a mummy experiencing school life for the first time and facing the reality that the system doesn’t work for people who need/want/have a career and have kids in public school. Also the reality of wanting to pick your kids up from school but not being able to as you have to be at work and feeling so guilty sending the to a mediocre after school club as you have no other choice.
The hours in school were design for one parent working not 2. Shifts would work too but the reality is most people post pandemic flexi working from home have the luxury of being able to pick up their kids and still work but businesses requiring physically having their staff face the reality of not being able to have them a huge amount of hours or face having staff who are stressed due to the challenges of payments for out of school care. This way parents get a little relief, kids have more structured time in education with hopefully some more innovative physical activity to break up their day and taking away an unproductive 3 hours in school on a Friday. Doing this also allows time for teacher to focus on marking and lesson prep on a Friday which could be from home. Allowing saving on all factors of running the building to take place on a Friday too. Just a suggestion and a dream but wouldn’t have a clue how to get it off the ground. Just looking to see if others feel the same🤗

MumClaireof2 · 11/02/2024 07:42

Whitestick · 11/02/2024 00:56

If the children are at school 9-5, and someone works 9-5, wouldn't they still need childcare? School would need to be 8.30 to 5.30 - and then there's need to be special childcare for teachers' children that was open 8-6....

Not really if one parent does drop off and one does pick up. Obviously for people without that luxury a shorter working day may be necessary.

Parker231 · 11/02/2024 08:50

We’ve never done drop off and collecting as working hours and school hours aren’t the same and when you add in a commute, breakfast and after school clubs are necessary. Same as needing holiday clubs.
Employers aren’t going to change working hours to fit in with parents.

Whitestick · 11/02/2024 10:28

So @MumClaireof2 ive just realised that you expect teachers to have an "admin day" on a Friday - when they have already extended the hours of the school day Mon to Thurs? So they just get to work a lot more under your system? Look I can see you are finding the whole thing of childcare around school a bit shit, and it is, I've had over 10 years of it so I do sympathise - but the answer lies in better wrap around care for those who need it or more flexible workplaces, not longer school days that are not being done for any educational reason.

Sherrystrull · 11/02/2024 10:45

I think people forget that teachers are people with their own families and lives as well.

LlynTegid · 11/02/2024 10:49

@MumClaireof2 it's not just schooling that is designed around the presumption of two parents under the same roof with one a SAHP (or working from home). Utility 'appointments' (or time windows in reality), parcel deliveries are other examples.

Four day weeks at school would not work, especially for younger children, imagine them at 430pm on Thursday.

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