Story perspectives

Scotland Trials Four-Day School Week to Combat Teacher Burnout

12/10/2025

Summary

Story summary

The Scottish government plans a four-day school week to address teacher stress and retention.
Research shows high classroom contact time drives burnout, while planning and assessment time are redistributed without reducing total hours.
Some international systems have adopted four-day weeks, but evidence of impact remains limited.
The pilot aims to generate robust data on wellbeing and retention in Scotland, and success depends on staffing, resources, and leadership.

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Story summary

The Scottish government plans a four-day school week to address teacher stress and retention.
Research shows high classroom contact time drives burnout, while planning and assessment time are redistributed without reducing total hours.
Some international systems have adopted four-day weeks, but evidence of impact remains limited.
The pilot aims to generate robust data on wellbeing and retention in Scotland, and success depends on staffing, resources, and leadership.