The SecEd Podcast: Ideas & examples for reducing workload in schools

In this episode, we discuss practical actions that secondary school leaders and teachers can take to reduce workload and working hours.

The Department for Education's Working Lives of Teachers and Leaders research shows that secondary teachers are working almost 50 hours a week on average while secondary leaders work more than 58 hours a week.

This episode features two experienced school leaders who have both undertaken a range of initiatives in their schools to bring workload down for all staff.

We discuss some of the most common workload challenges before hearing about some of their approaches, offering tips and ideas, and identifying a number of areas where schools might be able to reduce workload and working hours.

Specifically, we cover topics including strategies for assessment and marking, timetable and calendar planning, internal communications and meetings, behaviour management, additional duties, and more.

We also touch upon the various forms of flexible working and how some of these can be made to work in the secondary school environment – including touching upon the government's plans to allow teachers' PPA time to be taken at home.