Posted on Friday 10th May 2019
School break times in England have got shorter over the last two decades, with older pupils losing more than an hour a week as lessons increasingly eat into lunch and play time, research has found.
Afternoon break times, once enjoyed by nearly all primary school children, have been “virtually eliminated”, the report found, while a quarter of secondary schools now have lunch breaks of 35 minutes or less.
The UCL Institute of Education study found the youngest primary children, aged five to seven, have 45 minutes less break time per week than children of the same age did in 1995, while secondary pupils aged 11-16 have lost 65 minutes.
Just 15% of children aged seven to 11 and just over half of five to seven-year-olds now have an afternoon break. Back in 1995, 13% of secondary school pupils were still enjoying an afternoon break period but by 2017 that figure had shrunk to 1%.
Can't find what you are looking for?
Don't worry, please call us anyway to discuss your ideal job.
Latest News
13/03/25The government faces a "now or never moment" to hit its target of recruiting 6,500 new teachers in England
The government faces a "now or never moment" to hit its target of recruiting 6,500 new teachers in England by the end of its term, a new report has suggested. Analysis by the National Foundation of Educational Research (NFER) says unfilled vacancies are at a record high and recruitment into teacher training remains "persistently low." All but five secondary subjects missed this year's recruitment targets for new trainee teachers, which are set by the Department for Education (DfE).
06/03/25Medway children offered secondary school places as the number who got their first choice revealed
A total of 96% of children were offered places at a secondary school of their choice in Medway
04/03/25Schools to trial social media blackout scheme
Three schools in Surrey are launching a pilot programme to restrict mobile phone usage in an attempt to improve pupils' wellbeing. The secondary schools, which are part of the GLF Schools trust, are to trial an app that blocks social media, messaging and other apps which they believe are "distracting" during school hours. GLF Schools said the expected benefits were more focus in the classroom, a calmer learning environment and improved student mental health.
25/02/25First Kent schools named in free breakfast club pilot
The first schools in Kent and Medway to offer free breakfast clubs for pupils as part of a government scheme have been revealed.
24/02/25Schoolchildren have swapped French for British Sign Language
Children in Castle Hill Community Primary School in Folkestone have swapped French lessons for British Sign Language (BSL)
News Archive