What would you do if you could have a sabbatical?

This week, buried in a response to a consultation on education reform, Scotland’s national inspection and curriculum development body suggested that teachers could be given the incentive of a sabbatical.

This, said Education Scotland, could help provide teachers with “opportunities to learn and develop their skills” and help drive “innovation in the curriculum”.

When Tes Scotland‘s Henry Hepburn tweeted about the idea, what did teachers say they would do with a sabbatical?

There were scores of fascinating replies, from jetting off around the world to a slightly forlorn “Can I just rest?”

What would teachers do if offered a sabbatical?

I think about it often. My family and I would move to Italy for the year. A chance for my wife and I to study. Also, an opportunity for our boys to experience another culture. A chance to live and learn. Oh, and eat well.

Go in to prison to see how lack of education is really affecting society. Looking for good practice that can be brought back to schools and to see where restorative justice excels and where it fails.

Travel and see the parts of the world that I teach about in modern studies.

Sleep. No, but honestly - lots of recharging and remembering “life outside of teaching”. It’s so all-consuming at times, so I’d probably rediscover creative hobbies and move somewhere conducive to that.

Improve my fluency in Gàidhlig.

A term in another school in another local authority, maybe even another country. Or I do fancy building a cabin in the woods and staying there, self-sufficient for three months.

Dedicate myself to doctoral study and woodworking.

I think visiting universities and employers about digital skills, with a view to developing a more thorough road map of what skills they actually need (and candidates actually lack) rather than relying on hearsay and supposition.

So many ideas. Do a master’s. Try teaching in Finland. Do forest school training.

This would allow teachers to recharge and develop in a way that would entirely benefit their learners. Would definitely engage in worthwhile CPD or learning, rather than have a two-hour webinar at the end of a seven-period day.

Compare how home economics is taught around the world and use the information for a PhD thesis.

I would lock myself away in a secluded place with a space to work as well as plenty of outdoor space to explore. I would strive to find a work-life balance and use the time to FINALLY organise, update and improve my teaching resources.

Would love to travel around and see how schools work and how physics and science are delivered in other countries.

Research into curriculum design, teaching and learning. Limited time away from the classroom can be so useful in adjusting one’s perspective. I took time out when my kids were young, and it’s helped me keep a balance in my work life now.

I’d love to learn more about fostering children.

Either spend it developing my French up to fluency or undertaking an art residency. An artist’s residence in a francophone country, I suppose.

Finish my PhD.

If I were younger I’d want to design a junior science curriculum that articulated with the senior phase. Then I’d love to work with other science teachers and do the same with the senior phase. Coherence and quality instead of the car crash we have now...

I’d love to see how other countries teach foreign languages which aren’t English. The level in Scotland is so poor.

Clearing out our department’s cupboard!

Outstanding medical procedures, dental work and planning for retirement.

Can I just rest?

Travel and write a novel (who am I kidding - I’d watch Netflix!)

On sabbatical just now. Moved to Skye and going to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. Best decision of my career. Would be great if local authorities could support teachers financially to get the opportunity.

I had a sabbatical and it was life-changing. Went to China for a year and it was best the professional learning experience yet. Involved in initial teacher education and HIV/Aids awareness work in a setting very much different than what I was used to.

I did for a year (unpaid) and it was a great experience. I was able to return to my post without a break in service.

Just finished one, completed MSc full time, loved it and came back with a fresh mindset and perspective to work. Don’t think I would have felt the same squeezing it in part-time while working full time!

I took a two-year career break and went to lead a school in the Middle East. Helped me press the reset button and gave me a new perspective on my career and current role.

*The Education Scotland proposal for teacher sabbaticals is in a section of its response to the Muir review consultation on education reform.

The section in question reads: “Any innovation in curriculum should be learner-led and involve parents, carers and skills agencies to ensure awareness and embedding of the skills required in modern society. Educators need to be upskilled to meet this demand through professional learning in what qualifications are required for the workplace and society of today and the future. There needs to be staff willingness to embrace opportunities to learn and develop their skills and knowledge to deliver. This could include more innovative approaches to teacher development such as introducing a sabbatical model or incentives for practitioners to extend their repertoire.”