Over half of teachers drawn to flexible working

Research from the Department for Education (DfE)’s Teaching Vacancies shows over 80 per cent of teachers feel that improving work-life balance is one of the top benefits of flexible working.

More than 70 per cent of teachers included in the survey believe flexible working promotes wellbeing and 52 per cent associate flexible working with supporting staff retention.

Over half of all teachers surveyed are more likely to apply for roles at schools which are open to flexible working, jumping to 60 per cent for women.

Antonia Spinks is the CEO of Pioneer Educational Trust, a Flexible Working Ambassador Multi-Academy Trust based in Berkshire, said: “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. We advertise new roles via Teaching Vacancies, and we make it clear that we are open to discussing flexible working requests at every stage.”
 
The research revealed over half of all teachers who responded to the survey are more likely to apply to schools that advertise ‘flexible friendly’ jobs. In addition, new flexible working regulations came into effect on 6 April 2024, giving employees the right to request flexible working arrangements from day one of employment.
 
Flexible working can also promote equality of opportunity in the workforce, with over half of female teachers saying they would be more likely to apply to schools which offer flexible working roles. In addition, extending flexible working may attract former teachers back into the profession.
 
Six months after the new flexible working legislation came into effect, many teachers are now exploring their next career step in the lead up to the October resignation deadline. Schools and trusts should carefully consider the impact their flexible working offer could have on teacher recruitment and retention. The new findings show schools the benefits of offering flexible working opportunities to attract new talent, and to support retention of existing staff, helping teachers to achieve the right work-life balance.
 
The research, surveying more than seven thousand teachers, explored the benefits teachers associate with flexible working. Over 90 per cent believe that flexible working has identifiable benefits including improving work-life balance, promoting well-being and supporting retention.
 
There are some potential challenges to implementing flexible working in schools, such as timetabling, but many schools and trusts have embedded it effectively, and with the right planning and consideration, flexible working can be compatible with a career in teaching. 

The DfE has appointed a cohort of flexible working ambassador schools and trusts to highlight good practice and provide peer support in overcoming implementation challenges. There are also a range of webinars and a toolkit of practical resources to help with implementation.