Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2019 to Question 282244, whether Vale View Primary School in Stockport formally approached his Department on its proposal to shorten the school week; and if he will make a statement.

The Department has not been formally approached by Vale View Primary School on its proposal to shorten the school week due to funding.

All schools have the autonomy to decide the structure and duration of their school day, which includes the flexibility to decide when their school day should start and finish. The Department trusts that headteachers will do this in a sensible manner. All maintained schools are required to educate pupils for at least 380 sessions each school year. They cannot reduce the length of the school week if this would take the total number of sessions below that.

If schools are considering reducing their school week, where it is not a direct action to support and enhance their pupils' education, the Department would expect schools to take appropriate precautions and approach relevant parties for advice, before taking such action.