An education expert has called for students to be given Wednesday afternoons off school.

Ty Goddard, co-founder of The Education Foundation, believes taking youngsters out of the classroom for community work, drama rehearsals and sport once a week will make them more rounded.

Mr Goddard believes this tweak would benefit Sussex’s schools.

He said: “Schools today are being asked to do everything these days – providing this, fixing this, doing that.

“This is just an idea to free up some time.

“The French do it, and I know we’re not always keen on French ideas, but I just think it would be such an interesting opportunity.

“We need to give them space to breathe and to be themselves – to work on business ideas, to rehearse their drama, to play their sport, to help out in the community.

“This is not a do-or-die idea because the curriculum is already so rich. My nine-year-old daughter has a better social life than me because of what they do.

“It would be a really interesting chance for children to decide what they want to do.

“Schools may not like it.

“There are some amazing kids and amazing people out there and they need to be given the time to show what they can do – it’s only three hours.”

He was talking at Hove Park School’s prize-giving event, and said if races or religions got the same negative press as teenagers there would be uproar.

Mr Goddard praised The Argus’s Youth in Action supplement for highlighting the positive work they do in the community and said: “I really love it and we’re always getting the negative stereotypes about young people and it’s genuinely amazing to witness the work they do and give support to them.”

Public schools in the county can dedicate more time to extra-curricular activities – such as Bede’s Make a Difference Day.

A spokeswoman from the school in Upper Dicker said the benefits of the day are huge.

She added: “Make a Difference Day sees every one of Bede’s 750 pupils engaged in hands-on community activities across Sussex.

“From reading to and playing music for the elderly to teaching at local primary schools, working at charities including Chailey Heritage and Blind Veterans UK and taking part in a number of community activities such as gardening and litter collection, these endeavours fit under an umbrella of voluntary schemes at Bede’s known as ‘Community Links’.

“Community Links runs all year round, which means Make A Difference Day is just one example of how Bede’s is working to give back to Sussex.”