Schools to cut down on breaks and lunchtimes to solve discipline problems

Schools are cutting down on breaks and lunchtimes to solve discipline problems and to squeeze in extra lessons, according to research to be published this week. Changes over the past five years could damage a vital part of children's social life and could restrict opportunities for them to develop their social skills, say the academics who compiled the report.

Researchers from London's Institute of Education found that about a quarter of infant schools, four out of 10 junior schools and a third of secondary schools had reduced their lunchbreaks in the past five years. But Dr Peter Blatchford, who carried out the research, warned: "There are signs that children of primary school age have less opportunities out of school for interacting freely with peers and thus developing friendships."