Do lighter timetables lead to better teacher performance and retention?
A new study using data from England’s School Workforce Census found connections between the number of hours teachers spend with students (contact hours), the intricacy of their timetable complexity, the performance of students in GCSE exams, and teacher turnover.
The paper starts off with a familiar scenario. It is late in the academic year and your timetable is about to be released.
Discussions between teacher and timetabler is a constant negotiation as school leaders try hard to balance meeting the needs of their staff and pupils …
“Despite a lack of policy action on contact time, some schools have rethought their use of time”, writes Vaughan Connelly PhD, who analyses the assumption that teachers’ workload is linked with school performance and teacher supply.
A common concern among school leaders is the constant tug-of-war between meeting the needs of staff and students. It’s crucial to understand this, as teacher wellbeing directly influences student performance and school success.
