Schools in England will be asked to offer at least a 32.5 hour week from September 2023, the Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi has announced.

However, the Government will not be providing any extra funding for schools to increase the length of their day.

On Monday, the Department for Education will publish a new Schools White Paper setting out its plans for schools.

The White Paper will include a call for all schools to have a 32.5 hour school week, equivalent to 6.5 hours a day Monday to Friday, or 8.45am to 3.15pm.

The DfE said that most primary and secondary schools already offer this length week, but that there is a discrepancy across the country. The department said a child who receives 20 minutes less teaching time per day would lose out on around two weeks of schooling per year.

Mr Zahawi has previously said he wanted all schools to “move towards” a 6.5 hour school day, but had not issued a formal request to schools or set a date by which it should be achieved.

The Government is also not making any new money available to fund the increase.

Boris Johnson’s former education recovery commissioner, Sir Kevan Collins, had previously asked for a catch-up package of up to £15bn to pay for an extension of the school day to the 6.5 hour average in 10,000 schools. He resigned after the Government announced just £1.4bn.

The final catch-up package announced in October’s Budget brought the total to £4.9bn.

A DfE spokesperson said most schools were already able to run a 32.5 hour week with their current funding and that the department would provide guidance “to help schools do it where they aren’t already”.

Headteachers voiced scepticism about the increase. Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “We are unconvinced by the benefits of introducing a minimum expectation on the length of the school week of 32.5 hours.

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“The vast majority of schools already meet, or come very close to meeting, this expectation. It will be important to understand the factors which may lead to fewer hours in some schools. For example, it may be the case in some rural schools that start and finish times are affected by transport arrangements.

“Adding time on to the school week may sound straightforward, but there are many issues which need to be considered in individual schools, and we would encourage the Government not to rush any changes.”

Mr Zahawi said: “Over my time as Education Secretary, my guiding focus has been creating opportunity for all, with strong schools and great teachers for every child. Every plan and policy I will set out in next week’s Schools White Paper works towards this goal.

“The Schools White Paper, closely followed by the SEND [special educational needs and disabilities] Green Paper, will demonstrate levelling up in action, delivering fairness for every child and making sure nobody is left behind.”