Pupils at a West Ewell high school will be given an extended weekend in a move to make savings and cover school funding cuts.

Parents of children at Epsom and Ewell High School, a mixed comprehensive, have been told the school week will end early when the new term begins in September.

The 1,018 pupils will leave the site in Ruxley Lane shortly before 2.30pm on Fridays.

Changes in Government education funding and Surrey's failure to qualify for a support grant have been blamed for the reduction in teaching hours, which amounts to 43 lessons over the academic year.

It is understood dropping one lesson a week would save Epsom and Ewell about £60,000.

County schools face a £3.5million funding shortfall as ministers are accused of diverting more of the education budget to deprived authorities in the north.

Many schools have used cash allocated for building and improvement projects to cover day-to-day operating costs, but Epsom and Ewell is one of the first to have redrafted its timetable.

In a letter to parents, headteacher Phil Hutchinson explained he sought to minimise the impact of funding cuts.

He said some schools would finish at lunchtime, but his school had chosen to deliver its personal, social and citizenship education programme in a different manner, meaning it would need one less lesson a week.

The move could bring unforeseen benefits. Research shows pupils are more alert in the morning and would be better served under a continental system, where school could finish as early as 1.30pm.