Yes. All school staff have the legal right to request flexible working from their first day of employment.

Flexible working can include part-time roles, job shares, compressed hours, or changes to your working days or timetable.

Requests can be made at any time, but aligning changes with the start of a term (September, January, or Easter) can make implementation smoother.

You should submit a written request explaining the change you want, when you’d like it to begin, and how it could work within your school.

You are allowed to submit up to two flexible working requests within a 12-month period.

Schools must provide a decision within two months, including the outcome of any appeal.

Yes, but only for legitimate operational reasons, such as staffing constraints or potential impact on pupils and school performance.

Yes. Your employer must handle your request in a reasonable and fair manner, considering your proposal carefully.

Be clear and practical in your request. Show how your proposal can work day-to-day and how any challenges could be managed.

Yes. This is one of the most common flexible working requests in schools.

In most cases, your salary will be adjusted to reflect your reduced hours.

You have the right to appeal the decision or submit another request at a later date.