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Plans by a council to cut the number of hours children spend at school "would not be acceptable" to the Scottish government.

Falkirk Council is consulting on proposals to cut school hours from August 2025.

The Scottish government told ����ý Scotland News it was concerned at any suggestion of cuts to learning hours.

It said it would be prepared to prescribe learning hours if it could not reach a voluntary agreement with councils on protecting them.

Under the plan, children in primary school would spend 2.5 hours a week less in the classroom.

Secondary students would have their weekly hours cut by almost two hours.

A Scottish government spokesperson said: “The Scottish government is concerned at any suggestion of cuts to learning hours and is clear that this would not be acceptable.

“Ministers are keen to come to a voluntary agreement with local government on protecting learning hours, but if no agreement is reached will take steps to prescribe the number of hours made available in regulations.”

Falkirk Council, which is currently looking to fill a £62m budget gap, said the possible move would save it about £6m.

A petition opposing the plan has gathered more than 2,000 signatures.

The plan would involve closing schools on Friday afternoons but some opponents stress their principle concern is the potential cut in the total number of school hours.

Eight other councils – including Edinburgh - currently close their schools on Friday afternoons.

However, they balance this out by extending the school day over the rest of the week.

Last year the Scottish government ran a consultation on legislation to guarantee school hours.

Schools have to be open by law for at least 190 days a year but there are currently no rules on hours.

It proposed that primary school pupils should spend 25 hours a week at school and secondary pupils should be in for 27.5 hours - enshrining the standard practice in most schools.

Falkirk is running a consultation on its proposals.

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Falkirk Council said it understood parents and carers were concerned about the potential impact of proposed changes to the school week on their children's education.

The local authority stressed that the changes "are not final" and had been brought forward to "open a dialogue with stakeholders, including parents, carers and the pupils themselves."

It said input from parents and carers was "crucial" and would shape proposals which will be presented to councillors this autumn.

A council spokesperson said: "The ultimate goal of any proposed change is to address the council's significant budget deficit, which stands at £62.5m, as reported in February 2024, while continuing to ensure high-quality education for all our pupils.

"Starting this week, we will engage extensively with parents and carers through meetings held in every school to discuss the proposed changes."