An increasing number of Dutch primary schools are opting out of traditional lesson patterns, according to research by the DUO educational research group.

Next school year, just 56% of primary schools will have four days ending at 14.45 and no school on Wednesday afternoon, the research shows. In the 2011-2012 school year, 77% of schools followed this timetable.

In the next academic years, almost a quarter of schools will have abandoned the free Wednesday afternoon and will have five days ending at 14.00 or 14.30.

Around 8% of schools will also be closed on Friday afternoons and 4% will offer long days with two blocks of lessons and a large amount of time built in for sport and recreation.