Should teachers get Fridays off?
Meet Simon Hart, the headteacher who gives staff every Friday afternoon off to prioritise their wellbeing.
Simon Hart is a headteacher in west London with grand plans to try and fix the teacher recruitment and retention crisis. Finding solutions to this problem has been at the forefront of education policy for more than a decade.
Mr Hart's school shuts at 1.40pm each Friday for pupils and teachers – to prioritise teachers’ wellbeing and help them avoid burnout.
He also continues to teach Year 11 maths, and he and senior leaders deal with behaviour issues – such as running detentions and calling home – so that staff can prioritise their subjects.
He believes the sector can learn from this model to try and hold onto staff. By the time he retires, he wants everyone to have Fridays off.
In this episode of the 5 Minutes On podcast, the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's Hayley Clarke, who was previously a primary school teacher, has gone back to school to speak to Mr Hart, his teachers and his pupils – whose school week looks different to most.
(Image: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ)
