Shorter summer breaks and longer school days considered as catch-up plans

The Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has said that shorter summer holidays, longer school holidays and extra support for teachers are all being considered as part of a Covid catch-up plan.

Speaking on Sky News, Gavin Williamson said: “There is a whole range of different proposals that we are looking at, whether it is a five-term year, whether it is lengthening the school day. But also measures such as enhancing the support we give to teachers, supporting them in their professional development, making sure they can be the very best of themselves.”

Williamson said that the government’s education recovery commissioner, Sir Kevan Collins, would be looking at what measures to introduce over the next 18 months.

Williamson said: “We see this as one of those moments - a little bit like the 1944 Education Reform Act that came out of the Second World War – about how we can be transformative in terms of changing and improving the opportunities for young people.

"But it’s got to be evidence-based, we have got to look at what is going to have the biggest positive impact on children’s lives. That’s the approach that we are taking... how we can improve the outcomes for children."