Transfer of Administrative and Clerical Tasks
On 15 January 2003 the Government, employers and professional associations signed the National Workload Agreement designed to help raise standards in schools by tackling workload and enabling teachers to focus on teaching and learning. Amongst other contractual changes the Agreement states that teachers should not be required routinely to undertake administrative and clerical tasks. Examples are given and listed below:
- Collecting money.
- Chasing absences - teachers will need to inform the relevant member of staff when students are absent from their class or from school.
- Bulk photocopying.
- Copy typing.
- Producing standard letters - teachers may be required to contribute as appropriate in formulating the content of standard letters.
- Producing class lists - teachers may be required to be involved as appropriate in allocating students to a particular class.
- Record keeping and filing - teachers may be required to contribute to the content of records.
- Classroom display - teachers will make professional decisions in determining what material is displayed in and around their classroom.
- Analysing attendance figures - it is for teachers to make use of the outcome of analysis.
- Processing exam results - teachers will need to use the analysis of exam results.
- Collating pupil reports.
- Administering work experience - teachers may be required to support pupils on work experience (including through advice and visits).
- Administering examinations - teachers have a professional responsibility for identifying appropriate examinations for their pupils.
- Invigilating examinations - see distinct provisions below.
- Administering teacher cover.
- ICT trouble shooting and minor repairs.
- Commissioning new ICT equipment.
- Ordering supplies and equipment - teachers may be involved in identifying needs.
- Stocktaking.
- Cataloguing, preparing, issuing and maintaining equipment and materials.
- Minuting meetings - teachers may be required to communicate action points from meetings.
- Co-ordinating and submitting bids - teachers may be required to make a professional input into the content of bids.
- Seeking and giving personnel advice.
- Managing pupil data - teachers will need to make use of the analysis of pupil data.
- Inputting pupil data - teachers will need to make the initial entry of pupil data into school management systems.
Schools must by now have carried out the transfer of these administrative and clerical tasks. In addition, schools are contractually required to ensure provision is made for teachers and headteachers to enjoy a reasonable work/life balance. Teachers with management and leadership responsibility are entitled to a reasonable allocation of time within school sessions to support the discharge of of their responsibilities.
If you have ideas you would like to add about managing the contractual changes, we would like to hear from you.
We also invite you to look at, rate, and comment on the ideas on the National Remodelling Team's website IdeaBank: http://www.remodelling.org/ideabank.php.