A successful initiative to improve teacher retention could lead to more teachers benefiting from flexible working.
The government has announced that its Flexible Working Ambassadors Programme will be extended by another year. This programme allows teachers to plan their lessons at home, share jobs or work flexible schedules.
The Department for Education’s (DfE) latest figures show that in 2024 46% of teachers will have a flexible work arrangement. This is an increase of 6 percentage points from 2022.
A lack of flexible work opportunities was cited by nearly half (47%) the teaching staff that said they would consider leaving state education.
A study also revealed that 82% of school administrators who offer flexible working agree it has helped retain teachers. Parents said that 62% thought that having their children taught by two teachers as part of a job-share arrangement would have no effect on them or even a positive one.
Catherine McKinnell, the Minister of Education, said: “We value our brilliant educators and they deserve to work in conditions that support their professional development and recognise their professionalism.”
“I have seen how flexible working can improve the lives of teachers and help them to raise standards and achieve high ones for their students. Our Flexible Working ambassadors programme will ensure that we keep our promise to recruit and retain teachers.
The government is planning to hire an additional 6,500 teachers with expertise over the course this Parliament. It offers tax-free incentives as well as professional development in order to retain and attract teachers, improve workloads and wellbeing.
The Flexible Working Support Programme for Multi-Academy Trusts and Schools ( FWAMS), run by Capita, is funded by the DfE and offers school leaders free advice and support, such as designing a flexible work policy, flexible hire, and overcoming challenges like timetabling, budgeting, and scheduling.
Multi-academy Trusts, mainstream primary schools and secondary schools as well as alternative provision settings, pupil referral units and high-advantaged schools are all eligible to receive bespoke support.
Rebecca Cramer is the chief executive officer of Reach Schools in West London. She said, “Flexible work is essential to keep great teachers on the classroom.” We have helped schools adopt a culture of communication and openness around the way teachers work through our FWAMS program.
“Schools which embrace innovation and change in the work arrangement of teachers enhance their well-being, productivity and have a positive effect on our students.”
Sarah Corrigan is the director of Humanities and Social Sciences at Reach Academy Feltham. She said, “Flexible work has allowed me to remain in the classroom, doing something I love. If I had not been able to work part-time and have some full-time flexibility, I would struggle with work-life and have quit teaching.
“Reach supported me in returning from maternity leave part-time. Like all teachers at our school, I was encouraged to use flex time to make sure I didn’t miss any important events in my life or my family’s by taking term-time annual leaves and compressing my hours.
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