Guidance

Flexible working ambassador schools

Find out about flexible working ambassador schools.

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 12 October 2020
• Last updated: 8 February 2023 — See all updates

This guidance was withdrawn on 8 February 2023

This programme is currently closed.

Guidance on flexible working in schools is available.

Applies to England

Overview

Flexible working practices can:

• help to recruit, retain and motivate teachers
• support schools to deploy their staff effectively and efficiently
• improve staff wellbeing
• promote equality of opportunity and diversity in teaching

In March 2021, the Department for Education (DfE) appointed 8 flexible working ambassador schools across England.

We selected the flexible working ambassador schools following a competitive application process. They were funded for delivery until December 2022.

Role and responsibilities of flexible working ambassador schools

Flexible working ambassador schools were responsible for:

• awareness raising, acting as influencers, attending and hosting peer-to-peer training events and working with local networks to champion flexible working
• providing practical support to schools through coaching and advising
• supporting participant schools to address challenges related to flexible working, offer more opportunities for flexible working, and embed a positive culture towards it
• recruiting at least 5 schools across their region to provide one-to-one, bespoke support from April 2021 to December 2022, including a school most in need of support. Flexible working ambassador schools were able to use their discretion to decide what constituted greatest need in their region. This could include a school that was within the top-30th percentile in relation to pupils on pupil premium, or a school that faced challenges in relation to recruitment or retention

Contact

For more information about flexible working ambassador schools, email FlexibleWorking.RESOURCES@education.gov.uk.

Published 12 October 2020
Last updated 8 February 2023 + show all updates

1. 8 February 2023

   Removed list of flexible working ambassador schools as the scheme is closed.

2. 28 April 2021

   Updated to confirm the outcome of the flexible working ambassador schools recruitment process and to provide contact details for the flexible working ambassador schools in each region.

3. 2 November 2020

   Added information about the grant amount and the number of schools expected to receive a grant.

4. 12 October 2020

   First published.