DfE to extend flexible working programme for teachers

The Department of Education (DfE) has extended its Flexible Working Ambassadors programme for a further year, enabling teachers to plan lessons from home, job-share or work flexible hours.It comes as figures from the government show that 46% of teachers had a flexible working arrangement in place in 2024, up by 6% since 2022. However, 47% of teaching staff said they were considering leaving state education citing a lack of flexible working opportunities as one of the reasons. In response to this, the government said it is going “further and faster to ensure every school supports their staff’s working lives in modern, practical ways”. The DfE said that evidence shows a high-quality teacher can make around half a GCSE grade difference per pupil per subject, “showing the importance of allowing teachers to work flexibly, to retain the best teachers and help children achieve and thrive”. Research also found that 82% of school leaders offering flexible working agreed that it had helped to retain teachers who might otherwise leave. Some 62% of parents meanwhile said children being taught by two teachers in a job-share arrangement had no impact, or a positive impact, on their child. The DfE said the programme is free to all schools, and the extension means more schools can benefit in every region of the country, with a focus on supporting schools in disadvantaged areas, as well as special and alternative provision schools. Schools minister Catherine McKinnell said: “My number one priority is making sure every child has an expert teacher at the front of their classroom, as we know high-quality teaching makes the biggest difference to education outcomes. We highly value our brilliant teachers, and they deserve working conditions that recognise their professionalism and support their wellbeing. “I’ve seen first-hand how working flexibly can transform teachers’ lives for the better and drive high and rising high standards for their pupils. Our Flexible Working Ambassadors programme will help make sure we deliver on our pledge to recruit and retain more teachers.” CEO of Reach Schools, Rebecca Cramer, added: “Flexible working is imperative to keep great teachers in the classroom. Through the FWAMS programme we have supported schools to employ a culture of openness and communication around how teachers work. “Schools that think innovatively and embrace change around teachers’ work arrangements enhance teacher well-being and productivity and ultimately have a positive impact on the young people in our classrooms.” Director of Humanities and Social Sciences at Reach Academy Feltham, Sarah Corrigan said: “Flexible working has allowed me to stay in the classroom doing something that I love. Without the option of part-time work and some full-time flex, I would have struggled with my work life balance and would have left the teaching profession. “Reach has supported me to return from maternity leave on a part-time basis. Also, like all other teachers in our school, I have been encouraged to take advantage of flex to ensure that I don’t miss the big events in my and my family’s lives by using term time annual leave and compressed hours.”