New Grantham school rota allows teachers to work from home

Teachers at West Grantham Academy are able to work from home once a fortnight

A secondary school has introduced a new timetable allowing teachers to have a day working from home once a fortnight.

It comes at no additional cost to The West Grantham C of E Secondary Academy and staff still work full time.

Principal Clare Barber said it would allow teachers to have similar flexible working opportunities as people in other jobs.

Classes now run for four 75-minute periods rather than five 60-minute lessons.

Principal of the school Clare Barber described the new timetable as a "monumental change"

The new rota means teaching staff are allocated free periods within their timetables once a fortnight to plan and prepare for lessons.

They can choose to do this in the school or working from home for a day.

Five teaching staff so far are part of the new initiative at the school, which Ms Barber described as a "monumental change".

She said the new rota meant there was less for students to carry around and gave them a deeper knowledge in different subjects.

Ms Barber said her teachers get the opportunity to be "masters of their own time" and it was about giving "professional trust" to them.

'Happier teachers'

William Everett, a science and maths teacher at the school, said the new rota was "brilliant".

"It allows me to get out a bit more on my bike, or you can choose to catch up on work that you need to do for the week," he said.

Rachel Atkins, associate assistant principal and head of humanities, said the day off allowed her to book in meetings she cannot conduct on a normal school day.

She said: "I catch up on things I haven't been able to do in the school week because you have to be very reactive in school."

Rysz, a student at the school, said: "If it gives them a day off and makes them a happier person then having a happier teacher makes the class better."

Ms Barber said: "This is something I think all schools are going to have to consider in order to be able to retain and attract the best people."