A study by the Public Policy Institute for Wales (PPIW) concludes that evidence from the implementation of the new hours in several Scottish local authorities “suggest that the approach is worth exploring in Wales”.
If Wales took up the suggestion then both primary and secondary schools would close at lunch time on Fridays, with pupils staying in school for longer from Monday to Thursday.
The Welsh government said that at the moment it was considering the PPIW report.
Owen Hathway, policy officer for teachers’ union NUT Cymru, said there appeared to be “some merit” in the proposals, but that unions would need discussions with the government about whether the plan would be “feasible and practical”.
The PPIW report, commissioned by former education minister Huw Lewis, stated: “There are three main reasons for adopting an asymmetric school week: opportunities for financial savings, improved opportunities for CPD of teachers, and dedicated time for enrichment activities for children.
“The most common concerns include: access to childcare, the impact of the length of the school day, transport availability, and the potential loss of extra-curricular activities.
“If a decision is made to pursue an asymmetric school week in Wales, steps need to be taken to ensure that it is done in a way that maximises the potential benefits and minimises the potential risks.”
The structures of asymmetric school weeks can vary. The most common model comprises four longer days and a short half-day, but it does not necessarily result in a change in total teaching time.
Asymmetric school weeks were introduced in the Scottish Borders in 2014 and see high schools open between 8:50am and 3:45pm, Monday to Thursday, and close at 1:20pm on Fridays.
A presentation by schools in the region to the Scottish Education Executive at the end of the first academic year in May 2015 outlined that the switch had been positive.