Education Leaders
Shane Leaning
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Can schools do flexible work? A Conversation with Neil Renton & Julie Wellacott
In this episode, I speak with Neil Renton, headteacher, and Julie Wellacott, HR professional, who are pioneering flexible working approaches in UK schools through their work as Flexible Working Ambassadors. Episode Highlights:What is flexible working? Giving teachers greater control over how much, when, and where they workHow Neil's school has transformed to employ 50 teachers with some form of "part-timeness"The mindset shift required from school leaders to embrace flexibilityWhy "reason-neutral" approaches prevent bias when considering flexible working requestsSimple starting points for leaders wanting to explore flexible working optionsResearch showing that one-fifth of teachers who leave the profession move to part-time roles outside educationHow flexible arrangements like sabbaticals and phased retirement help retain experienced educatorsCreating a school culture where staff feel comfortable requesting flexibilityKey Takeaways:Flexible working isn't just about part-time hours - it encompasses location, scheduling, and workloadThe cultural shift required is substantial but pays dividends in retention and teacher wellbeingSmall, incremental changes can make a significant difference to individual teachersStart with an honest assessment of your school's current approach to flexibilityBoth research evidence and individual stories can help persuade reluctant leadersLinks Mentioned:Neil's Article in SecEdFlexible Working ToolkitEpisode PartnerThe International Curriculum Association: Learn more Thank you for tuning in, and if you found this episode useful, please share. You can find me on LinkedIn and Bluesky. Shane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports international schools globally. Passionate about empowering educators, he is currently co-authoring 'Change Starts Here.' Shane has extensive experience in the UK and Asia and is a recognised voice in international education leadership. Learn more at shaneleaning.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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