Department For Education
Flexible working in schools has many benefits. It can:
- help recruit and retain teachers
- improve staff wellbeing
- promote equality in the workforce
The Department for Education (DfE) recognises the challenges of implementing flexible working. We have:
- published a practical toolkit of resources to provide support
- appointed ambassador schools and multi-academy trusts (MATs) to support school leaders
- contracted Capita to deliver webinars and oversee the flexible working programme from 2023 to 2025
Flexible working toolkit
Practical resources for school leaders, trust leaders and teachers to help implement flexible working. The toolkit was produced by including school leaders, other sector experts and DfE.
Use the toolkit to:
- increase your understanding and awareness of flexible working in schools, including its benefits
- develop and implement a flexible working policy, strategic approach and effective practice
- help staff request flexible working
The toolkit has been designed for use in all schools and settings including:
- special schools
- alternative provision
- pupil referral units and trusts
The toolkit may also be useful for other settings if adapted for use, including:
- sixth-form colleges
- further education colleges
- other providers
Use the flexible working toolkit resources.
Flexible working ambassador multi-academy trusts and schools
Flexible working ambassador multi-academy trusts and schools (FWAMS) offer advice and practical support to school leaders to improve flexible working in their schools.
Flexible working support can help with:
- designing a flexible working policy
- flexible hiring
- overcoming common challenges such as:
- timetabling
- budgeting
Settings that can access FWAMS
Bespoke support is available to:
- MATs
- mainstream primary schools
- mainstream secondary schools
- special schools
- alternative provision settings and pupil referral units
- high disadvantage schools (where high proportions of pupils are eligible for the deprivation pupil premium)
Regional and specialist FWAMS
| School or MAT | Specialism or region |
|---|---|
| Abbey School of Nexus Multi-Academy Trust | Special schools |
| Aspire AP School of Aspire Schools Trust | Alternative provision settings and pupil referral units |
| Charles Dickens Primary School of London South Teaching School | London |
| Harrogate Grammar School of Red Kite Learning Trust | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| Lapal Primary School of Hales Valley Trust | East Midlands |
| Malmesbury School of The Athelstan Trust | South West |
| Reach Academy Feltham of Reach Academy Trust | High disadvantage schools |
| The Halifax Academy of Impact Education Multi Academy Trust | High disadvantage schools |
| Thomas Gainsborough School of Unity Schools Partnership | East of England |
| Upton Court Grammar School of Pioneer Educational Trust | South East |
The Capita website contains further information, including how to get support from one of theFWAMS, or discuss support for regions or specialisms not listed.
Training Capita can provide
Capita is working with FWAMS to deliver a national programme of free workshops and webinars for school leaders and teachers on:
- the benefits of flexible working
- co-headship, and applying and working as a job share
- supporting equality of opportunity and diversity through flexible working
- overcoming barriers to flexible working
Contact
Email Capita at Flexibleworkingineducation@capita.com to:
- book a place on a workshop or webinar
- get support from one of the FWAMS
- discuss support for regions or specialisms not listed
Last updated 8 April 2024 +show all updates
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Removed 'Newport Girls High School' and 'Ormiston South Parade Academy' as they have left the programme.
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Added information about the flexible working toolkit, including a link to the toolkit and a list of the sector experts who helped develop it.
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Added Aspire AP School of Aspire Schools Trust, Lapal Primary School of Hales Valley Trust, Newport Girls High School of Newport Girls High School Academy Trust, Reach Academy Feltham of Reach Academy Trust, and The Halifax Academy of Impact Education Multi Academy Trust to the appointed FWAMS table.
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First published.
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