School Day 2024-2025

Non-statutory guidance for schools to have a minimum length of school day of 32.5 hours per week (6.5hr per day).

The 32.5 hour minimum expectation includes the time in each day from the official start of the school day (i.e. morning registration) to the official end of the compulsory school day (i.e. official home time). The 32.5 hour minimum includes lunch times and other breaks as well as teaching time and any enrichment activities that all pupils are expected to attend. It does not include optional before or after school provision.

The expectation does not apply to pupils in:

• early years (including in school settings) due to the age of pupils
• 16-19 education (including school sixth forms) due to the variation in their courses and having different guided learning hours
• specialist settings (special schools and alternative provision), due to the varying needs of their pupil cohorts and the particular operational challenges they may face.