Gove Calls For Longer Days And Shorter Holidays For Schools

Schools days should be longer and holidays shorter, Michael Gove has said.

The education secretary claims this would improve performance and make life easier for working parents.

The reforms proposed would allow state schools to choose to stay open until 4.30pm and introduce a shorter, four-week summer holiday for pupils.

Saying that the school system had been designed for a 19th-century agricultural economy, Gove said British children were at risk of trailing those in Asia.

"It may be the case that there are one or two legislative and bureaucratic obstacles which prevent all schools moving in this direction, but I think it's consistent with the pressures of a modern society. I also think it's going to be family friendly," he said.

Critics however say that Gove was "making policy up on the hoof," without regard for the evidence.

Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: "Teachers and pupils already spend longer hours in the classroom than most countries and also have some of the shortest summer holidays.

"Independent schools in England and Wales, which often break for two weeks more during the summer and have longer holidays at other times of the year than their state counterparts, do not apparently feel the need to change and are apparently not suffering from their reduced hours."

(H/CD)