The school week could be cut to four days in West Dunbartonshire, under shock proposals to help the local authority close its £14m budget gap.

Members at Church Street will meet on March 1 to discuss how to close WDC’s biggest ever budget deficit – which sat at more than £20m in December.

One potential option which is set to be presented to members will be plans to cut the school week by a day, with the local authority estimating that this could save £1.3m in 2023/24, rising to £2m in 2024/25.

A report by WDC’s education chief says: “Under this proposal schools would continue to meet their statutory provision of learning and teaching time across a four day week.

“Primary schools would open Monday – Thursday, 8:30am until 3:45pm, providing pupils with the same amount of teaching time across four days, instead of five.

“Secondary schools will run an eight period day, Monday – Thursday, 8:20am until 4:10pm.

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