More support staff needed to address admin burden on teachers

A new report commissioned by the Department for Education and conducted by CooperGibson has found that more needs to be done to address the increase in admin that teachers have to take on.

The findings showed that teachers are regularly carrying several, pupil, curriculum and personnel focused administrative tasks, that are in addition to all lesson planning, preparation and assessment activities outside of the classroom. Most of the tasks need to be carried out daily takes on average, 2 hours per day, the study found.

Some participants described an increase in emails from parents/carers and often with an unrealistic expectation of response times since the pandemic.

The report found that the curriculum support officer role would help. Like a laboratory or design technology technician in other subject areas, a curriculum support officer could undertake many of the reported administrative tasks such as photocopying, printing, displays, organising trips, organising cover, entering assessment data and preparing lesson materials, that do not require the direct involvement of teachers.

Apart from funding, an important consideration would be to make this role an attractive one professionally with, for example, a clear career structure. Administrative roles in the higher education sector provide clear career progression pathways to, if desired, very senior roles.