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The staffroom

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

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Original poster

Keeping up with marking and NEA Marking

14 replies

Amore22 · 27/04/2019 14:38

Since having my DC, I am finding this difficult at certain pinch points of the year. In secondary and teach English so there is a lot! Right now, we have tests and NEA to mark all by beginning of May. I suppose getting off Mumsnet is first step!!

I work 0.9 so one afternoon off that I use for marking normally or shopping/clean ing. I try and do most work after school between 3.30 and 5 but that is not enough time. I take some home but am not productive after 8pm when kids are in bed. I normally use part of Saturday too but difficult with DC around. Any tips/advice appreciated. Wish I could do more say twice a week between 8 and 10 but after tidying the house, I am normally semi-comatose on the sofa!

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AppleKatie · 27/04/2019 14:41

I’m afraid the only answers I have are-
A) get to work at 6.45 am (I have a 45 min commute before this) it’s hard but possible. Although might not be if you have to sort kids in the morning I’m ‘lucky’ in that respect.

B) let the housework slip at crunch times

Original poster

Amore22 · 27/04/2019 14:52

Yes, the early start would be good right now but not possible due to Dh's commute. Think I am going to have to either work at night more or get up earlier for the next week or so and fit in 90 mins before DC are up. Not great but manageable for a finite time. Thanks for your response.

Love my job but not so much at there times!

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Original poster

Amore22 · 27/04/2019 14:55

Thanks for your response. a) would be good as think that is my productive time but not possible due to Dh's job but I could get up at home 90 mins earlier to get some done. Not pleasant but doable for a while.

Do you leave the house at 6 every day? Wow!

Thanks for your response.

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Original poster

Amore22 · 27/04/2019 14:58

Sorry for double post. First one 'disappeared' so I did another one, posted, then saw original had posted! 🙈

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Piggywaspushed · 27/04/2019 15:25

What's the NEA in English?? Is that A Level?

Not a sympathetic response but I am not sure why that ahs been left so late given submission deadlines: maybe next year try to get that doen earlier/ spread it out more...?

I do egt in reasonably early (7.35) but that's quite a recent thing : I used to get in at 8. I work full time and hardly ever do any work at home. That said, I don't do housework either

AppleKatie · 27/04/2019 16:13

Only 3 days a week (0,6) but yes.

Original poster

Amore22 · 27/04/2019 16:19

Thanks for responses. You are right, Piggywaspushed but our school internal deadline was just before Easter. We have 70 students for A level. I spent three days marking in Easter while DC were in kids clubs and managed to mark about 40 folders. DL is 15th May so not long now but have managed another few folders this afternoon as we are standardising soon. May have to move the students' deadline earlier next year.

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etaketak · 27/04/2019 16:29

Watching this thread hoping for some answers- I am in the same position, except I have Monday off. I have my 18mo at home though so can't get any school work done as he is so demanding.

I get spend time with DS in the evening 5-7.30 when DH puts him to Bed. I then do dinner for DH and myself, and work 9-11pm most evenings. I'm way less productive in this time than I would be if I were able to work in the mornings.

Original poster

Amore22 · 27/04/2019 16:32

It is a very hard balance to get right hence why a lot of people are leaving. However, 8 really love teaching!

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Original poster

Amore22 · 27/04/2019 16:33

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Haggisfish · 27/04/2019 16:35

I hire a cleaner which buys me a bit more time and have taken on extra tlr which has an extra free or two a week which helps. I also think ‘well, they aren’t going to sack me’ which helps!

Original poster

Amore22 · 27/04/2019 16:47

Yy to cleaner! Already have TLRs which help (sort of) as you spend more time as you have more responsibility. Think it is just the nature of the job at certain pinch points. Will speak to our Dep Head about changing the internal deadline for NEA next year but our school is the type to want to give max time to students and staff need to deal with it to a certain extent.

More working in the early morning for me!

Good luck, everyone! Think I also need to get my DH to help more. He is good but does not quite get it.

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Piggywaspushed · 27/04/2019 16:58

70 is an awful lot! There's no way of sharing that marking?

It does seem like your school is pushing that marking close to the wire. Theoretically there was a date by which you should have shared marks with students in case they want to challenge the marking. That's one argument for bringing the marking forward.

But , overall, 70 students is too many for one person.

Original poster

Amore22 · 27/04/2019 17:06

Thank you, Piggywaspushed. I might use the students' right to appeal as one of my arguments. As well as workload. Going to get on with it now...

We are trying to work smarter, not harder at our school by using three week deeper marking moments, embedding peer marking and marking tests in staff teams.

Thanks everyone and great to communicate with fellow teachers on here. Keep calm and carry on, I suppose!!

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