teacher admin overwhelming - please share your top tips!!!

[mechanicalpencil]

I'm finding the sheer volume of admin work for my teaching job overwhelming. I'm not a new teacher but have found lately there seems to be more and more admin to do. Each term comes with a new addition of a document/form/spreadsheet/padlet etc that needs to be done, but nothing ever seems to be taken away. The sad part is that less and less time is available to actually plan my lessons which is the fun bit.

So, I was just looking for some of your tips of the best way of dealing with and keeping on top of all teaching admin!

My top tip is to not do everything. I solely do things that impact pupil’s education and everything else I leave. If I’m chased then I will grudgingly do things

The NEU has a list of clerical/ admin tasks that you should not be expected to do.

https://neu.org.uk/advice/your-rights-work/teachers-workload-and-working-hours/workload-bargaining-toolkit/administrative-and-clerical-tasks

Speak to your rep for support and advice.

@24Dogcuddler that is very interesting!

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That list is part of STPCD so it's very easy to push back on

I adopt a similar philosophy. I prioritise the tasks beneficial to me/the students. If something else is that important someone will check/follow up and I'll do that. If someone isn't chasing then it obviously wasn't that important to start with!

Don't do it. Do the stuff that directly impacts upon students learning and progression. Reports produce a statement bank and use cut and paste (remembering to change names!).

Lesson plans - lots available on the web, quite a lot free but always check first.

Data - test data save in Excel. I was in 1 school and the HOD produced an app for data. It was slow to add stuff so after an hour I sent the spreadsheet and said it wasn't working. The other thing about data is no one checks it.

If something is late I used to go down the lone of "I was sure I did this" "Would you check in your inbox" I then quickly do it and ping it across.

I also have used "Well in other schools I didn't have to do this" which always makes for a fun conversation. .

Sounds cynical but I have just finished 27 years of teaching and most of the admin stuff we have had to do is a tick box exercise and does not help the actual teaching.