So, who's already behind with work?

[Elendel]

(Light-hearted; it's not the end of the world, but a bugbear nonetheless)

It's been a week. I have worked almost continuously for the first 3 days, then around 10 hours the other two. I have worked through breaks and lunches, mornings before school, afternoons, 3 out of 5 evenings.

I am still at least 5 hours behind everything that's on my list (but am a single mum to kids who still need my attention every day). And I am an efficient one; hell knows how those with less organisational skills cope.

But I have
-exams to remark for potential official remarks
-seating plans to annotate, therefore
-EHCPs and ISPs to read, toilet pass lists to trawl (there is no official summary, so that takes ages), colours for photocopying to find for those who need it
-books to sort out with target grades (can't read these out aloud in class for students to fill in, don't kow the students well enough yet to do this individually while also keeping an eye on everything else in class)
-books to look through for potential early issues, e.g. lack of work, doodling, sheets not stuck in
-homework to sort out ready for next week
-development folder to update with notes from training
-a club to sort out

I have not planned next week's lessons yet beyond ordering equipment.

Good thing I love my job.

Who else is behind already?

I was behind before we broke up. Got further behind over the holidays despite doing lots of work most weeks and have not responded to emails/calls from Monday yet despite working my backside off (had 3 hours sleep one night this week). So I am very, very far behind.

I think ive been behind with my jobs for about 4 years. Single parent too and I decided to prioritise myself. I did absolutely no planning over the summer holidays although I did gcse results analysis. In my dept mtg on the first day back I told my dept including the headteacher that I hadn't done any prep and that I was just going to remind them of what we are doing. The headteacher replied that I shouldn't have to work in the holidays because it's my holiday.

I have a very long to do list!! I am a HoD and have some new staff members in my team, including an ECT1, so it's been manic since term started.

Hats off to those who are single parents - I have a husband who works p/t and flexibly so very hands on with our son (who is nearly 11, so older, more independent etc than younger ones). Plus I only have one child.

I had a local sports event to take my son to this morning (also helping supervise a group of kids round various events) so my morning has been very busy after a really intense week last week. Done a quick supermarket shop and I am now shattered so won't do anything this afternoon.

Need to do through my planner tomorrow and try to assign jobs to my free periods next week, so I can make some headway on the mountain of stuff I need to do.

Totally, our timetabling has been a shambles, so didn't know what classes to plan for!

@Zucchero that sounds like a nightmare! Ridiculous that the timetable hasn't been organised by now 😳

I first fell behind in September 1998 and have never quite managed to catch up.

What doesn't get done by July 2029 will probably never get done.

It's madness. But we're already having book inspections and daily learning walks, and more formal ones to follow as of this coming week, so nothing can be left undone. Communication to parents is going out this week about homework and clubs, so that cannot be left. Obviously knowing our SEND kids and their needs is part of what we need to do to simply prepare for our lessons, and the remarks need to be handed in this week.

There is nothing that can just be left. Even my HOD, who normally does not take work home out of principle, is currently online and working.

Me! I was told on Tuesday that I was running whole school inset on KS5 teaching next week (as in, the 13th).

I'm not a member of the T&L team; I'm a HOD. All of my personal work is being done before and after school as it is.

And I've just remembered that the intervention budget is due. Bugger.

There are often days when I can't wait for the kids to home so I can finally get on with my job.

I wouldn’t say behind but what an exhausting week it has been!
My first one in my new school (I’m the HT) so I was in meetings, assemblies introducing myself to students, meeting more staff, INSET days plus more.

It was a staggered start with students returning from Wednesday - this week coming is our first full week back!