Allowing one day a week of working and studying from home for teachers and students holds “immense potential” to improve wellbeing, alleviate school overcrowding and drive innovative interdisciplinary learning, Scotland’s biggest teaching union will hear this week.
At the EIS annual general meeting - which gets under way in Aviemore tomorrow - teachers are set to debate a motion calling for the union to carry out research into the feasibility of secondary schools implementing one day a week working and studying from home for both senior students and teachers.
The secondary teacher behind the motion - Luca Beschi, from Fife - argues that the proposal has the potential “to save thousands” and “help senior students develop the transferable skills essential for future success”, including honing the independent study skills essential for those keen to progress on to university.
He also says that working from home would benefit students who find the crowded and noisy school environment stressful - at the same time as leading to “less congested” classrooms and facilities for those who continue to be educated face-to-face.
Dwindling pupil attendance has been a huge concern since the Covid pandemic, with 40.6 per cent of secondary students absent for 10 per cent or more of the school year in 2023-24 - up from 26.7 per cent in 2022-23.
Mr Beschi argues that one day of remote learning could ease mental health issues that are known to be affecting attendance.
Meanwhile, teachers in danger of suffering burnout would benefit from a better work-life balance and time away from the stress of “daily commutes and rigid schedules”, he says.
This week, the EIS published its latest workload survey; around half of the 10,000-plus teachers who participated reported working at least an extra seven hours a week. The union said excessive workload was affecting teachers, with “serious health, safety and wellbeing implications”.
There is also a consensus building that if teacher retention is to improve - and new recruits attracted into the profession - something will have to be done to address the job’s lack of flexibility.
While uptake of places on primary teacher education courses remains high, for two years running universities have filled just half of places on the most common route into secondary teaching, the .
‘Incentive to strive for excellence’
However, under Mr Beschi’s proposal, the option of studying from home would not be open to all senior students.
In a document setting out his arguments, Mr Beschi says only those students “with outstanding school records” should benefit.
“This project is not intended for everyone,” he writes. “However, it also serves as a strong incentive for others to strive for excellence and follow their example.”
He suggests the time could be used “to present an interdisciplinary paper at a university level, working on it during their home study days”.
Students, he proposes, could investigate the influence of social media on teens’ mental health; gamification in education; or how footballers can positively influence teenagers.
Timetabling challenges
In her 2023 review of qualifications and assessment, Professor Louise Hayward proposed that Scotland should introduce a Scottish Diploma of Achievement - one element of which would be an interdisciplinary learning (IDL) project.
Students, the review said, should be “allowed to apply their knowledge and skills across subjects to tackle a challenge”.
However, education secretary Jenny Gilruth said more work was required if IDL was “to become a required part of the senior phase”. One of her key objections was that IDL would be tough to timetable.
Mr Beschi’s proposal suggests the freed-up day could be used for interdisciplinary projects - as well as “workshops and collaborations”.
The takes place from Thursday to Saturday.
*Update: The Fife motion on working from home was overwhelmingly rejected following a debate at the EIS AGM.
You can now get the UK’s most trusted source of education news in a mobile app. The iOS version is coming soon
