Exploring the impact of offsite planning, preparation and assessment on teacher retention.
Teacher recruitment and retention is a major challenge in England and globally. Historically, teachers have had less access to flexible working than other professionals. This is an issue that has become more salient with the recent rise in working from home.
In collaboration with the IOE, UCL’s Faculty of Education and Society, the Chartered College is carrying out research to explore the perceived impact on teacher retention when schools encourage teachers’ PPA time to be taken offsite. Funded by the Education Endowment Foundation, the project runs from September 2024 to July 2032.
All teachers in state schools in England are entitled to at least 10% of their timetabled teaching time as protected PPA time. This cannot be allocated to other duties. Evidence suggests that offsite PPA is a feasible but currently underused approach to flexible working in primary schools. This study aims to build the evidence base for this approach and its potential impact on teacher retention.
The project consists of a scoping phase followed by a trial phase.
The scoping phase (2024–25), led by the Chartered College of Teaching, will explore the factors impacting the availability and uptake of offsite PPA in primary schools and establish the final trial design. This phase will also explore secondary-specific issues relating to offsite PPA.
The trial phase (2026–31), led by researchers from the IOE, will evaluate the impact of an offsite PPA policy in primary schools on:
We are currently exploring how offsite PPA could support teacher wellbeing and job satisfaction in primary schools. If you’re a headteacher or MAT CEO of a state primary school that currently offers onsite PPA and would be interested in trialling offsite PPA in your state primary school, we’d love you to take part in our short survey.
There will be many ways to get involved in the project. Opportunities will be advertised through our newsletters and via social media.
Becky Taylor: Professorial Research Fellow, Centre for Teachers and Teaching Research (UCL)
