The number of hours that pupils spend in the classroom varies widely across developed nations, statistics reveal.

In England, pupils are expected to spend 7,258 hours in class between the ages of 7 and 14, according to figures released by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The average across all 34 surveyed countries was 6,862 hours.

The country with the fewest hours of instruction was Estonia, with 5,644. Finland, which scores highly on international rankings, was next with just 5,754 hours. Chile expected pupils to sit through 8,664 hours of lessons during the seven school years, the highest in the survey.

But the OECD points out that in some of the countries that have a higher number of hours, education is compulsory for fewer years. In Chile, at least 90 per cent of the population is enrolled in full-time education only between the ages of 6 and 15. In Finland, at least 90 per cent is enrolled between the ages of 6 and 18.

Estonia - 5,644

Finland - 5,754

Korea - 5,808

Germany - 6,322

Denmark - 6,541

OECD average - 6,862

England - 7,258

France - 7,431

Netherlands - 7,700

Chile - 8,664

OECD average teaching time for pupils aged 7-8 - 790 hours a year

OECD average teaching time for pupils aged 9-11 - 838 hours a year

OECD average teaching time for pupils aged 12-14 - 922 hours a year.