Children would need to be taught from 8.45am to 3.15pm under the new proposals
(PA Archive)
Schools will be told to provide at least 32.5 hours of teaching a week under a new plan announced by education secretary Nadhim Zahawi.
The Department for Education’s new minimum would be the equivalent of a school day lasting from 8.45am to 3.15pm.
Most primary and secondary schools already offer a 32.5-hour week, but ministers say there are “discrepancies” that they say need to be abolished by 2023 in “levelling-up” plans to increase numeracy and literacy rates.
The Schools White Paper will set out the new minimum requirement when it is published tomorrow. But the government has not made any new money available to fund the increase in teaching hours.
Meanwhile, chancellor Rishi Sunak is reportedly planning a new council tax rebate after his spring statement failed to lessen fears over the cost of living crisis.
Intially, he had announced a £150 council tax rebate to help households with sky-high energy costs – as prices are set to rise by more than 50 per cent from next week.
Pupils to be given 32.5 hours teaching a week under new plan
Schools will be told to provide at least 32.5 hours of teaching a week under a new plan announced by education secretary Nadhim Zahawi.
The Department for Education’s new minimum would be the equivalent of a school day lasting from 8.45am to 3.15pm.
Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi
(AP)
Most primary and secondary schools already offer a 32.5-hour week, but ministers say there are “discrepancies” that they say need to be abolished by 2023 in “levelling-up” plans to increase numeracy and literacy rates.
The Schools White Paper will set out the new minimum requirement when it is published tomorrow. But the government has not made any new money available to fund the increase in teaching hours.
Lamiat Sabin27 March 2022 07:55
Chancellor Rishi Sunak ‘planning new council tax rebate’
Rishi Sunak is reportedly considering a new council tax rebate amid backlash over his recent spring statement.
Earlier this week, the chancellor’s package of tax and duty cuts was widely criticised for not going far enough to help households in the cost of living crisis.
Boris Johnson congratulates Rishi Sunak after his spring statement
(PA Wire)
Initially, Mr Sunak had announced a £150 council tax rebate to help households with energy costs – that are set to rise by more than half from next week.
On Friday, the energy price cap will jump from about £1,300 to nearly £2,000, and could rise again to £3,000 in October.
Mr Sunak is considering another multibillion-pound package to help with the autumn surge in fuel costs, The Times reported.
Lamiat Sabin27 March 2022 07:48
