This section offers a wide variety of news, views, guides and stories about subjects including returning to work, flexible working, maternity & parental leave, childcare, career advice and employment rights.

Male teachers turning part time speak out

Teaching is often seen as a job that doesn’t lend itself to flexible working. But 10% of male teachers do it and they’ve been explaining why they went part time.

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Male teachers that work part time have opened up about the reasons they changed their hours.

Around 10% of male teachers work part time. A quarter of female teachers work reduced hours.

A survey of hundreds of men who teach and work part time found nearly half changed their hours to look after children.

Childcare costs were pinpointed as a driving force behind many men’s decision to address their working hours.

However, interestingly, many men went part time for other reasons. A third cited the stress of the job. They said they’d reduced their hours for their own wellbeing. A further 13% changed their working pattern to pursue life as a ‘slashie’ – someone with more than one role. These figures show that the benefits of flexible working are not confined to working dads.

Term time working

Teaching is often cited as a profession that doesn’t lend itself to flexible working. However it is possible to do job shares or reduced hours. And it comes with term time working built in.

A number of male teachers spoke to the TES about their experience of working part time. Adrian Bethune, a primary teacher in Hertfordshire, started working three days a week when his wife returned to work (also part-time) following the birth of their first child. “We’re making the most of being together as a family when our children are young,” he says. “We’ve got less money, but we’re much less stressed and happier as a result.”

Other dads reported continued resistance to changing their hours from colleagues and management. One dad claimed some colleagues repeatedly referred to him as ‘Mr Part Time’ after he reduced his hours.