The DfE has published non-statutory guidance and case studies for schools in England wanting to increase the length of their school week, including those delivering below the minimum 32.5 hours.

The guidance is aimed at leaders of schools and trusts, school staff, trust boards and governing bodies in all maintained schools, academies and free schools, special schools and alternative provision.

The guidance provides information on the expectation for all state-funded mainstream schools to deliver a school week of at least 32.5 hours by September 2024 at the latest.

Minister Gibb has also released a statement as follows: 

“As part of our ambition to give every pupil the opportunity to succeed, we announced an expectation for all mainstream state-funded schools to deliver at least a 32.5-hour week by September 2023 in the Schools White Paper. Whilst the majority of schools are already delivering this commitment, schools will now have until September 2024 to meet this expectation. We have today published guidance to support them to do this.”

View the DfE guidance on Length of the school week