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Flexible Working Ambassador Schools.

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Flexible Working Ambassador Schools

In 2020, the Department for Education (DfE) announced the launch of the Flexible Working Ambassador Schools programme. Charles Dickens Primary School is delighted to be granted one of the eight national commissions of this work. 


The Role of Flexible Working Ambassador School


Our mission is to champion flexible working. We will provide practical support to participant schools to enable implementation and maintenance of good practice and to increase understanding of flexible working arrangements to promote a lasting culture of change. 


We know that flexible working practices can help recruit, retain and motivate teachers, improve teacher wellbeing, promote equality of opportunity and diversity (in teaching) and play a central role in helping schools deploy staff effectively and efficiently. And yet, we know there is unmet demand for flexible working in schools, and that there are practical challenges associated with its implementation. 

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"Flexible working has allowed me to work part time whilst completing my PHD. I have now returned to full time teaching and see the benefits of my continued professional development and how this continues to enrich my practice."
Dr Amy Mulvenna

‍Our approach 


Charles Dickens Primary School is committed to flexible working and its benefits are deeply embedded. 

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“We support all types of flexible working requests at all levels. Our track record of school performance demonstrates that a whole – school approach to flexible working is financially sustainable and supports high pupil outcomes.”
Cassie Buchanan, Executive Headteacher and CEO,
The Charter Schools Educational Trust.

In the Press

Read all about Flexible Working in action in the Daily Mirror's feature on how Charles Dickens Primary School help Year Two teacher Dan Huxley find a work/life balance that worked for them.

Our experience


Charles Dickens Primary School has already worked with many schools, such as the Teaching School champions and has raised the profile of flexible working through its Woman’s Leadership Network and BAME teaching and leadership programme. 

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We also have a track record in supporting schools with teacher workload reduction projects. In 2016/17 we led on the Workload Challenge Projects, in which schools reduced written marking with no negative impact on pupil outcomes. The project report can be found here:
and a practical how-to guide here:
In 2019/20 we worked with schools across the South-East to use the Workload Toolkit to reduce workload in an area of their choice. Across the projects, teacher workload reduced and pupil outcomes either remained the same or in some cases, improved. You can read the full report here:

Would you like to be part of our mission and journey? Complete the short form below.

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