Primary school pupils could be switched to a three-day week

Thousands of primary school pupils could be switched to three-day school weeks because of a shortage of places.

 

The radical measures may be introduced by a London council in 2015 as the recent baby boom threatens to fill classes to bursting.

 

Other local authorities are already using emergency measures such as building over playgrounds and constructing temporary classrooms.

 

Research by the Local Government Association shows there could be nearly twice as many pupils as available primary places in some parts of England within two years.

 

Education chiefs are considering a three-day week in which half a school’s pupils would go to lessons from  Monday to Wednesday and the other half from Thursday to Saturday.

 

A shift system is also being considered, in which one half of school students work from 8am until 2pm and the other half from 2pm until 8pm.