Primary school plans to close at lunchtime on Fridays to give teachers more spare time

A primary school is planning to close at lunchtime on Fridays to allow teachers more spare time.

Parents have been told teachers need the extra time to "maintain a healthy work-life balance" and to stop teacher "burnout".

Moving to a four-and-a-half day week would give staff more time to develop an "exciting curriculum" for students, according to Ashby Fields Primary School, in Daventry, Northants.

It is running a consultation with parents on the timetable change, which would start in September if agreed.

The school explained that recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers is a national problem that has "a direct, major impact on not only our children's education, but their well-being and confidence."

This is being caused by "the huge workload that ensures teachers work an average of 60 hours a week during term time and through their holidays to keep up."

It read: "Many teachers, despite their love of frontline teaching, cannot manage this workload and maintain a healthy work-life balance, and subsequently resign." 

The move comes amid an ongoing national debate about heavy teacher workloads, with ministers pledging to act to deal with the issue.

A document published on the Northamptonshire school's website says it is proposing closing to children at 1.15pm on a Friday afternoon.

Pupils would still get more than the number of hours of classroom time per week recommended by the Government, it says, and "wraparound care" would be offered to parents who cannot collect their children at this time.

The document says that recruitment and retention of high-quality teachers is a national problem that has an impact on children's education, wellbeing and confidence.

It says that the "huge workload" faced by teachers means that they work 60 hours a week on average and that many, despite their love of teaching, cannot manage the workload and end up resigning.

The document goes on to say: "We can offer our teachers more time out of the classroom to be able to collaborate with their peers and develop the exciting curriculum we want our children to receive, without 'burning out'."

A consultation on the proposal runs until Friday May 4.