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This project evaluates the effects of primary school teachers taking Planning, Preparation and Assessment (PPA) time away from the school site on teacher retention, job satisfaction and wellbeing.
The project runs from September 2024 to July 2032 and is funded by the Education Endowment Foundation.
Background
Teacher recruitment and retention is a major challenge in England and globally.听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.
All teachers in state schools in England are entitled to at least 10% of their timetabled teaching time as protected Planning, Preparation and Assessment (PPA) time. This cannot be allocated to other duties.听Evidence suggests that offsite PPA is a feasible but currently underused approach to flexible working in primary schools.
Methodology
The study is a 鈥楽chool Choices鈥� trial, consisting of a scoping phase followed by a trial phase. In the scoping phase (2024鈥�25)听we will explore the factors impacting the availability and uptake of offsite PPA in primary schools.听We will investigate the most appropriate design for an efficacy trial in primary schools.听We will also identify the barriers and enablers to offsite PPA in secondary schools.
The trial phase (2026鈥�31) will evaluate the impact of an offsite PPA policy on:
- teacher retention
- job satisfaction, and
- wellbeing.
We will establish the final trial design during the scoping phase. This will be accompanied by a mixed methods implementation and process evaluation.
Team
Project lead
Project team members
- Lisa-Maria M眉ller (Chartered College of Teaching)
- Victoria Cook (Chartered College of Teaching)