Rebecca Curtis

Director, Research and Insights, Ambition Institute

Rebecca has over 20 years’ experience in education, spanning roles as a children’s centre teacher, primary teacher and headteacher. She brings a deep understanding of how to build positive cultures where people feel valued, supported and empowered to make a difference for their pupils. Rebecca joined Ambition Institute in 2021 to help shape professional development for teachers and school leaders. Rebecca has designed professional development programmes, guided the Early Career Teacher programme design team as an Associate Dean, and now is the Director of the Research and Insights teams. She works closely with teachers and school leaders to develop evidence-informed approaches that put people first and foster supportive environments. Rebecca’s work supports schools and trusts to create cultures where educators keep getting better and achieve the best outcomes for their pupils.

11:35

1 Main programme

What happens when we change the rules? Reflections on the nine-day fortnight

This month early findings from the evaluation of a nine-day working fortnight on teacher retention at Dixons Academies Trust have been published, providing qualitative evidence on its impact on leaders and teachers. Faizal and Rebecca will reflect on the policy’s positive impact on staff morale, flexibility, and work-life balance, as well as the practical challenges of condensed hours and strategic planning. Delegates will hear about the lessons learned, unexpected outcomes, and the implications for trust leaders considering flexible working models.