Research involving more than 7,000 teachers has found that 57% say they are more likely to want to work in a school that advertises itself as being open to flexible working. This figures rises to 60% for women.
The survey has been published by the Department for Education’s Teaching Vacancies service and is based on polling carried out by TeacherTapp.
Of the respondents, 72% said that flexible working promotes wellbeing, 83% said it supports a healthy work/life balance, and 52% associate flexible working with supporting staff retention.
The survey has been published ahead of the October resignation deadline (teachers who want to leave at the end of the autumn term on December 31 must hand in their notice by October 31).
It also comes after amended flexible working regulations gave employees the legal right to request flexible working arrangements from day one of being employed.
As well as hosting webinars and publishing a flexible working toolkit for schools (see the Flexible Working in Education website below), the Department for Education has appointed a number of Flexible Working Ambassador Multi-Academy Trusts and Schools (FWAMS) to highlight good practice and provide support in overcoming implementation challenges.
Jill Newbolt, assistant headteacher at Abbey School is South Yorkshire, a flexible working ambassador school, was not surprised by the survey findings: “Flexible working has allowed me the time and freedom to explore my passions, while also progressing in my teaching career. Having the flexibility within my working week to be able to play football, means I am able to compete in international walking football, at a rather mature age, and has been incredible for my wellbeing. I would encourage any teacher looking for their next role to seek out flexible opportunities.”
Antonia Spinks, CEO of the Pioneer Educational Trust in Berkshire, a flexible working ambassador trust, added: “Our trust offers a flexible job design process which supports colleagues at all levels to flex their roles without affecting their pay or schools’ budgets. Being proactive about flexible working has helped us recruit and retain experienced teachers, by offering a work/life balance that works for them. This has allowed us to support teacher wellbeing so they can deliver the best for our pupils.”
- Teaching Vacancies: https://teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/
- HM Government: Flexible working: www.gov.uk/flexible-working
- Flexible Working in Education: www.flexibleworkingineducation.co.uk