UK Education secretary Michael Gove calls for longer days, shorter holidays:

Mr Gove said he wanted to see schools introduce a longer day for pupils, suggesting that some are already “recognising that we need to change the structure of the school term and in particular that it is poorer children that lose out from longer holidays.”

“If we look at the length of the school day in England, the length of the summer holiday and we compare it to the extra tuition and support children are receiving elsewhere then we are fighting, or running, in this global race in a way which ensures we already start with a significant handicap,” he said.

“It is also the case that some of the best schools in the country are moving to a longer school day as well.”

via Michael Gove calls for longer school days and shorter holidays – UK Politics – UK – The Independent.