How to request flexible working guide for school staff
Explore and discover our next steps below and find flex in your career
Educate
understand the range of flexible working options available to you
Explore - your role and request
flexible working definitions and the legal requirements will support you to consider your request
Explore – your school’s offer and policy
understand your school's flexible working policy and procedures for making a request
Request
everything you need to request Flexible Working in your educational setting
Educate
Before exploring a flexible working request, you first need to understand the range of flexible working options. This will support you to identify solutions that work for you and your employer.
There can be variations in definition, perception, and commitment when it comes to flexible working in education. There can two main reasons for this:
- Understanding based on flexible working models and definitions in other industries
- Understanding based on the flexible working role models in our own setting, most commonly part-time colleagues with caring responsibilities
The need to understand what flexible working is and what it can look like in schools is paramount.
What is flexible working?
Flexible working can be defined as ‘arrangements which allow employees to vary the amount, timing, or location of their work'
What options are available?
Part time
Working less than full-time hours. Not all teachers who work part time choose to do so. This may be linked to subject and timetabling requirements, particularly if they teach subjects for which there is low demand. Employees can work full time but still have flexible work arrangements in place.
Job share
Two or more people doing one job and splitting the hours.
Retirement
Gradually reducing working hours and/or responsibilities to transition from full-time work to full-time retirement.
Staggered hours
The employee has different start, finish and break times.
Compressed hours
Working full-time hours but over fewer days.
Annualised hours
Working hours spread across the year, which may include some school closure days, or where hours vary across the year to suit the school and employee.
Lieu time
Paid time off work for having worked additional hours.
Personal or family days
Days of authorised leave during term time to which all employees in a school are entitled.
Home or remote working
The employee carries out work off site.
Blended CPD – virtual, pre- recorded, in person
Occasional home working
Ad hoc requests
Short term requests
Flexible working explained in 3.54:
What are my rights when it comes to flexible working?
The Employment Rights Act 1996 outlines the formal right of employees to request flexible working following 26 weeks of continuous employment. This is known as ‘making a statutory application’.
Employees are only eligible to make a statutory request for flexible working if they have not made a request to work flexibly within the past 12 months. Employers have a responsibility to provide a response to a statutory flexible working request within three months, including the conclusion of any appeal.
Each request should be considered and a timely response issued.
More information on the consideration of flexible working can be found on this website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flexible-working-in-schools
If you’ve been working for at least 26 continuous weeks with your school, then you are able to put in a request for flexible working. You can only make one request in a 12month period, and your employer can legally take up to 3 months to respond.
Some employers may suggest a trial period for flexible working before contractual changes are made.
Checklist
- Do I understand the range of flexible working options?
- Do I understand the formal rights of employees and employers?
Useful resources from the toolkit:
FAQs for school staff in Alternative Provision Settings
Flexible Working FAQs for school staff in Alternative Provision Settings
Exemplar Policy - Alternative Provision Trust
A Trust Wide exemplar policy for flexible working in Alternative Provision settings
Exemplar Flexible Working Policy - Alternative Provision
An exemplar flexible working policy for Alternative Provision settings
Flexible working application process
Download our guide for staff and school leaders on the application process for flexible working
Flexible working FAQs for school staff
Download and share our list of frequently asked questions for school staff
Explore – your role and request
Understanding the range of flexible working definitions and the legal requirements will support you to consider your request. When considering your options, you may wish to think about your role within the following terms:
Explore – your school’s offer and policy
Once you have explored your role and prospective request, you now need to understand your school's flexible working policy and procedures for making a request.
If your school does not have a policy or system for submitting requests the Department for Education has produced guidance for staff to support making flexible working requests. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flexible-working-in-schools/flexible-working-in-schools--2
Successful requests for flexible working are most often centred on open, solution – focussed dialogue. If you are unsure of how to make a request or what your school offers, then start a conversation with your line manager or senior leadership team.
Requests are more likely to be successful, where the employer and employee work together to establish an arrangement which works for both the employee’s need and the school’s needs, to ensure consistently high-quality provision for pupils.
The requester and their manager may wish to informally discuss:
- the potential impact on the school
- options for a flexible working arrangement – employers can encourage staff to show flexibility when making a flexible working request, as it may not be possible for requests to be met in every case
- a trial period to test out flexible working arrangements before any permanent changes are made
Trial periods should precede any contractual changes.
Flexible working arrangements can be requested by any member of school staff, including those in leadership positions and non-classroom-based roles.
Checklist
- Have I analysed my role to identify the ‘best’ flexible working solution for myself and my employer?
- Have I considered the potential impact on the school, pupils and colleagues?
- Have I considered where I could be flexible?
Useful resources from the toolkit:
FAQs for school staff in Alternative Provision Settings
Flexible Working FAQs for school staff in Alternative Provision Settings
Exemplar Policy - Alternative Provision Trust
A Trust Wide exemplar policy for flexible working in Alternative Provision settings
Request
How and when you make a request will differ across organisations and settings depending on school policies and procedures.
Exploring this before you submit a request is vital.
If your school does not have a policy for requesting flexible working, the Department for Education has guidance which can be found here - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flexible-working-in-schools
Further documents to support you be found in the toolkit:
Sample policies
Sample request proformas
Checklist
- Have I read and understood my school’s flexible working policy?
- Have I read and understood the DfE guidance for requesting flexible working?
- Have I analysed my role to identify the ‘best’ flexible working solution for myself and my employer?
- Have I considered the potential impact on the school, pupils and colleagues?
- Have I considered where I could be flexible?
Top tips for requesting flexible working:
- Educate yourself to understand all flexible working options
- Educate yourself to understand your school’s offer and how to request flexible working
- Start a conversation with your line manager
- Work together with your employer to find a solution
- Be realistic and flexible when finding the best solution with your employer
- Remember the needs of the pupils and the organisation
- Seek fairness in the process when requesting flexible working but understand that outcomes may look different depending on colleagues’ roles and responsibilities.
Useful resources from the toolkit:
Top tips for School Staff
Top tips for school staff looking to make a flexible working request
FAQs for school staff in Alternative Provision Settings
Flexible Working FAQs for school staff in Alternative Provision Settings