How to reduce teacher workload without compromising on pupil support
The current conditions for school leaders, teachers and support staff are not sustainable, according to research from the . More than 78% of all education staff report being stressed (rising to 89% of leaders), while 36% of teachers report experiencing burnout. But what’s the solution? How can we reduce teacher workload without compromising on pupil support?
How does workload affect teachers?
At their 2024 Annual Conference, the asked 8000 members about their personal experiences of workload and other factors affecting their wellbeing. 41% of teachers described their workload as “unmanageable”, whilst 37% said it was “only just manageable”. Only 1% of respondents described their workload as being manageable all the time.
However, recent researchfound that it isn’t necessarily the number of hours that makes the role unmanageable, more the “fluffload” – the additional tasks that teachers have to do that don’t really make any difference or contribute to pupils’ education. Many teachers continue to love teaching and know that their job makes a difference, but object to “fluffload” tasks that inflate their working hours and make the job less manageable long-term.
What contributes to teacher workload?
Despite many schools using multiple strategies to manage workload, they are having only a small effect. More than three-quarters of teachers and leaders report that insufficient funding or staff capacity is a barrier to cutting teacher workload. An suggests the following to be the key drivers behind teacher workload.
Lack of funding and staff capacity
A lack of school funding is taking its toll on teachers, with cuts to staff and resources. This means larger class sizes (reducing time per student), reduced support staff (increasing teacher responsibilities) and outdated resources and technology, which makes it harder for teachers to engage students.
Government and Ofsted pressures
Survey respondents reported that whilst their priority is curriculum, teaching and supporting pupils, a great deal of time is spent on training and staff meetings in response to external pressures such as Ofsted and central government.
Lack of support from SLT
Perhaps a tough pill to swallow for some, but over a quarter of teachers interviewed in the said that a lack of support from the SLT is a barrier to reducing workload.
Pressure from parents and carers
Education Support’s found that 70% of the workforce experienced an increase in challenging behaviour from parents, negatively impacting their health and wellbeing, as well as increasing their administrative workload.
Five behaviour management techniques to reduce teacher workload without compromising student outcomes
The top priority for many schools is to reduce the workload associated with behaviour management. This is considered to be high/medium priority for 81% of respondents in a recent t. With that in mind, here are our top five tips for reducing workload in relation to behaviour management.
1. Set expectations
Set expectations with students early on. Ensure to clearly define acceptable and unacceptable behaviours as well as the repercussions of not meeting these expectations.
2. Promote consistency
Ideally, any rules and expectations should be universal across the school to promote consistency. Ensure that all staff members apply the rules uniformly and in an unbiased manner.
3. Support positive behaviour
Ensure to reward and promote good behaviour to foster a positive learning environment. This not only boosts students’ self-esteem and motivation but also encourages desired behaviours by reinforcing positive actions.
4. Create a structured environment
Establish clear routines and procedures for activities and transitions to help students feel in control. This feeling of control should lead to better behaviour and therefore reduce teacher workload.
5. Outline consistent consequences
As a school, clear, fair and consistent consequences need to be outlined for rule breaking. Students are more likely to take accountability if they understand the repercussions and see them applied fairly. For teachers, this reduces the mental load of determining appropriate consequences each time a student breaks the rules.
Learn more about this in our detailed blog, Managing behaviours in schools – the best approaches to behaviour management that also support teacher workload.
Take the Two Clicks Challenge
Class Charts provides smart behaviour management with minimal effort, helping to reduce the amount of time that teacher spend on administrative tasks. In just two clicks, teachers can access, log and manage student behaviour, reducing the “fluffload” and making everyday actions easier.
Find out how much time your school could save with Tes Class Charts. Take the Two Clicks Challenge today.
Introducing Class Charts – Smart behaviour management in just two clicks
Class Charts is a simple classroom management tool designed to help teachers reclaim teaching time lost to administrative tasks, transform behaviour management and improve communication with parents. With simple and easy-to-use tools, Class Charts makes it easier for teachers to focus on what really matters – pupil success.
Find out how Class Charts improved behaviour management at St. Helena School and ultimately boosted their Ofsted grade.
