What flexible working at the Chartered College of Teaching means to ... Miriam

Miriam Davey

Associate Director, Strategy and Operations

August 2024

Over my seven-year tenure at the Chartered College I have experienced first-hand how the flexible working options can help our employees maintain a healthy work-life balance. Firstly moving from office life to remote working and, more recently, navigating the world of being a working parent.

Working remotely is not simply about having a work set-up at home rather than an office, but is about how an employer’s and employee’s approach to work adapts to this way of working. Here are some of my reflections on how this has looked for me over the five years of working from home.

Keeping in touch – To me, the most important thing. Tools that support synchronous communication like Slack mean that I never feel out on a limb or disconnected. Weekly team meetings with updates, a chance to collectively celebrate our successes and, of course, the occasional quiz does wonders to feeling connected and moves us forward as a team.

Respecting different working patterns – An employer must create a working environment that thrives from its flexibility, rather than just allowing for it. The culture of trust and autonomy at the College means that we can all work according to our individual rhythm of productivity. For me, an earlier working day is conducive to a more productive working day.

Variety is key – We recognise that time to meet in-person is important, be it specific workshop-based meetings or our bi-annual team days, I find these times incredibly energising and motivating.

Working on the move – On the occasions I am travelling to and from the office (a five-hour journey each way) I get to experience the pinnacle of low-effort, high-yield multi-tasking – working on trains is something we fully support and something I personally relish, no need to be taking up valuable free time if it can be avoided.

All of this has become even more important to me since I became a working parent, moving to part-time employment on my return from maternity leave. This transition has been at my own pace with support from all my colleagues and always with the work/life balance (and juggle) in mind, including fitting work around the trials and tribulations of nursery sickness and the sometimes rigidity of childcare schedules.?

It is a difficult balance to strike, combining a fast-paced, forward-thinking working environment that is unique to an ambitious young charity with a healthy, positive staff culture that respects each individual employee’s needs, however the Chartered College is committed to doing exactly that, with great success.

The Chartered College of Teaching offers a range of flexible working options to help its employees maintain a healthy work-life balance. They understand the importance of personal time, so they offer part-time roles and flexible working patterns. Moreover, there are policies in place for people who have care responsibilities or who have medical conditions that require support.?

For parents, the College has generous parental leave policies, including maternity, paternity, shared parental leave, and antenatal and adoption leave so you can be there for your little ones without worrying about work being rigid. The team is split between office working, home working and hybrid arrangements, with most roles offering hybrid or remote working options.

Additionally, the Chartered College of Teaching offers various professional development programs that fit around your schedule, ensuring you can continue to learn and grow in your career without sacrificing your personal time. This commitment to career and professional development bolsters other flexible elements to create a supportive and adaptable work environment, making it easier for you to manage both your personal and professional life.

To find out more about the College: chartered.college

To find out about open vacancies: https://chartered.college/join-the-team/