Top tips to make your teaching workload more manageable
Top tips to make your teaching workload more manageable
“Workload” has been a buzzword in the teaching community for as long as we can remember here at Class People. It was very recently announced that teacher workload was cut by five hours a week over the past three years, which is fantastic progress! However, it does appear that there is still a long way to go, especially considering:
… and the list goes on.
But why has teacher workload increased so much over the years?
When asked why they feel unable to keep on top of their teaching duties, teachers most frequently state that they are spending too much time on planning, marking, data management and assessments and general administrative work. Others will also cite dealing with individual pupil issues such as behaviour, dealing with contact from parents, or preparing themselves for inspections. What’s more, due to the ever-increasing concerns for mental health in children and young people, teachers are asked to remain vigilant of their pupils’ mental wellbeing and report any issues or take part in meetings surrounding this; tasks which are, although essential, also very time-consuming. This has also dramatically increased with the institution’s recent objective of integrating and making provisions for SEN pupils within the mainstream schooling system. However, the funding to support this ideology is not yet in place, and subsequently, this has become the responsibility of classroom teachers.
Unfortunately, there are negative consequences to an increased workload if it’s not well-managed.
Primarily, an unmanageable workload has a direct impact on teacher’s mental health. A 2018 survey found that 84% of 11,000 teacher respondents identified workload as their number one cause of their stress and depression; another survey of teachers who had all experienced long-term sick leave felt like they were under constant scrutiny and pressure to perform to "unrealistic expectations".
What’s more, 14% of teachers miss out on professional development because of their workload, which means that the quality of teaching is at risk of slipping, or they are unable to access support and advice on how to better handle their increasing workload.
As a result (and as mentioned above), one in five teachers plan to leave the profession after only two years, and mainly because they are unable to cope with the workload. There is also in fact a significant lack of teachers entering the profession in the first instance due to the warnings around workload, among other concerns.
So what can teachers do to manage their workload?
With teacher workload decreasing five hours on average a week over the last three years, it’s safe to say that things are on the up. In the words of Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, however, “it’s clear from meeting many teachers across the country that we have more to do.” – so while this is underway, what can individual teachers do to manage and better cope with their workload?
Read on for our top tips...
1) Create to-do lists
According to psychologist Dr David Cohen, having a list of tasks is much less stress-inducing than trying to organise everything you have to do in your head; to-do lists are great at giving us a visual representation of how much/little we actually have to do, and give us the structure we need to be productive!
When it comes to creating your to-do list:
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Rank your tasks from the most to the least urgent, and complete them in that order
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Make it detailed enough that you remember what tasks mean when you come to them
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Break down the larger jobs into more bite-sized tasks so they don’t seem overwhelming
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Be realistic about how long each task is likely to take.
And just remember; you’re not always going to reach the bottom of the list – and that’s okay!
2) Ask for help
The thought of asking for help can trigger a lot of feelings of guilt for teachers. “If I’m struggling then so-and-so is probably in the same boat” and “so-and-so has more than enough on their plate without me asking for help” are phrases you might be familiar with! Teachers can often worry that asking for help is also a sign of weakness. As individuals with teaching experience ourselves, we’re here to tell you it’s absolutely not; it’s the responsibility of your Senior Leadership Team to ensure that you’re not overloaded, so don’t be afraid to tell them if you need a helping hand!
3) Try some relaxation techniques
In the times where trying to stay on top of your workload can get overwhelming, it’s also helpful to know how best to take control of those feelings so they don’t become overwhelming. Yoga and meditation classes are now readily available in most areas and can give you those essential skills to take ownership of your feelings. Learning relaxation techniques doesn’t need to cost a fortune, either; there are some fantastic apps available to help you learn how to meditate, and YouTube videos galore on how to safely practice yoga.
4) Book out a timeslot in your non-working hours that is just for you – no matter how busy you are!
It’s thought that teachers in England work longer hours than almost anywhere else in the world, which is attributed to – surprise surprise – excessive workload, rather than actual teaching. With all the marking, lesson preparation, and form-filling, it’s no surprise that so many teachers get home at the end of the school day, only to keep working. Without proper rest, however, the quality of your work – and your health – is destined to slip. So, make sure you take the time out that you need. Have that bubble bath. Read that book. Watch that TV show. Whatever you want to do, that time is yours!
5) Don’t be afraid to say no
Saying “no” to people when they ask us for help or a favour is difficult under most circumstances; we don’t like letting people down or the feeling of guilt that comes with doing so. And as a teacher, you’re likely to be asked to add a few more jobs to the list – playground cover, keeping an eye on another class, to name just a couple. But if you have enough on your plate, it’s Ok to say no (there’s a fantastic article on the Education Support Partnership that goes into more detail about this here).
6) Look into supply teaching
If the workload involved in full-time teaching does become too overwhelming, it might be worth looking into making the move into supply teaching. Being a supply teacher has a multitude of benefits – one of which includes greater flexibility and work-life balance. If you’d like to learn more about this, take a look at our free supply teacher download here, or get in touch with our experts here at Class People for a chat!
