Give schools extra support
In a survey we conducted, most parents (56%), do not want the school day compulsorily extended to give children an extra halfhour of academic catch-up.
But there is strong support for more extracurricular activities out-ofschool hours.
Opposition to an extra half hour of compulsory catch-up in school – which Ministers are reportedly considering - is strongest among parents with children at secondary school – 63% don’t like the idea, compared to 52% of parents with primary school children.
A large majority (79%) of parents say any extension of schooling – for any purpose – must be optional, not compulsory.
Just under a third (32%) would support a longer school day for optional rather than compulsory academic learning but most (65%) would welcome an extension for optional extracurricular provision like physical activities, music, art and drama.
Parents are especially keen (60%) to have more physical activities before or after school.
As a result we are urging the Government to boost its Covid-19 education recovery plan by providing schools with adequate funding to develop low or no-cost, before-and-afterschool extra-curricular programmes to support pupils and families in their communities.
This Autumn’s Spending Review must include dedicated funding for this purpose.
As parents are a primary stakeholder in children's education, it's only right that policymakers take notice of their views.
This past year and a half has seen the parental role in education increase dramatically, and many want it to stay that way. Parents are well-placed to know which education recovery options will work well for their child.
Extra-curricular activities around the school day can boost children’s learning, development and well-being and help parents to work.
It’s our responsibility to help children recover the ground they’ve lost to Covid-19 and to back parents trying to stay afloat. The time to invest in extending extra-curricular provision is now.
“We are urging Government to boost its education recovery plan”
To do less is to leave the life chances of the poorest children in jeopardy.