At the start of the year, I was chatting to the three headteachers at the schools that form the Forest of Dean Trust, where I lead as the CEO.

“What would make your life easier?” I asked them. Among the myriad obstacles they raised, they unanimously said, “more time”.

Time to spend on longer-term projects, to catch up on work and generally get some headspace - a rarity in the busy day-to-day running of a school.

Making time for heads

Rather than lamenting that a head never has enough time - a reflection I could easily make based on two decades in the role - I realised I had the power to do something about it by offering to sit in for them at their school for a day.

Not to “be” the head, but to act as a point of reference for other staff while the head is offsite.

So that’s what I did. I’ve been to each school once now, based on a schedule of going in roughly once every two weeks - and it has already had a hugely positive impact.

Heads have been able to get that time to focus on longer-term projects. One got stuck into his work on new leadership pathways for young teachers, while others just enjoyed the benefits of working flexibly from home for a day.

A big part of that is about trusting our leaders. I don’t expect them to tell me what they intend to do with the day, and I don’t ask them afterwards what they did. I know how hard they work; they have earned that trust.

If they want to go for a long walk to clear their heads, that’s entirely their choice.

Their time to use as they wish

Linked to this, I also tell the heads not to feel the need to check in - and I make it clear I won’t be calling them unless something exceptional has happened. The idea is they can fully disconnect and know things are in hand, free to use their day as they see fit.

We also don’t mandate that they take up the offer - we coordinate which days each fortnight would be the most helpful for me to be there, but if they don’t need the day within the next two weeks, that’s fine. So far, though, it has been taken up each time.

For me, as CEO, the impact is minimal - I can work from the head’s office for most of the day as easily as I can from anywhere else. I also ensure I step in for any lunch or breaktime covers the head was scheduled for.

Doing this gives me plenty of time in each school, allowing me to talk to staff and pupils, and generally ensure I’m known across our trust, rather than just working in a siloed office all the time.

I feel this leads to a greater sense of authenticity with the wider community. For example, if I discuss any changes or challenges we’re facing, our staff know I understand the schools and the pupils they teach.

Helping other staff step up

There is also a positive effect for the staff in the schools on those days.

I don’t get in the way or try to take over; I let them get on with running their school, so they experience what it’s like to step up into the relevant roles above them for a day and see how that feels.

Of course, if they need me, I can help. I recall being asked for advice on one particular behaviour incident (and the staff member had done everything right anyway), and also for assistance with unblocking a toilet.

So far, however, I have not been required to do anything urgent; it’s the staff who are effectively running the school.

It could be argued that being in a smaller trust, where I can easily travel to each site, makes this more viable than it would be for larger ones - and perhaps there is something in that.

But then again, it does not have to be the CEO who steps in; it could be anyone in a similar trust-level position who can act as a proxy for a day to give heads (or other senior leaders) a little time away from the demands of in-school headship.

It also gives those who lead areas of the trust a genuinely immersive experience for the day.

We should ensure that the benefits of flexible working now enjoyed by other sectors are not lost to education, and this is an easy way to achieve that.

I’d highly recommend considering whether this idea can work in other trusts. Help give a leader the gift of time, and see how it benefits your schools.

Steve Brady is CEO of the Forest of Dean Trust

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