How the toolkit was made and tested
The toolkit is a set of workload reduction resources produced by school leaders, for school leaders. They have been designed to support what you are already doing and can be adapted to work in your school.
Background to the toolkit
This toolkit is part of DfE’s action to support schools to reduce workload and address the causes of excessive workload at a national level.
It builds on the principles of the Workload Advisory Group report Making data work and three independent reports on marking, planning and resources and data management:
- Data Management Review Group report
- Marking Policy Review Group report
- Planning and Resources Group report
DfE has also consulted and engaged with organisations to help reduce workload in schools, including:
- Ofsted
- the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL)
- Community, Education and Early Years (formerly Voice the Union)
- the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT)
- NASUWT, The Teachers’ Union
- the National Education Union (NEU)
Evidence for the toolkit
The resources in the toolkit were provided by school leaders and have been tested with a range of schools across England.
Schools using them in a project with the Teaching Schools Council and Education Development Trust saw:
- significantly reduced teacher time on targeted tasks
- improvements in overall teacher wellbeing
- constant or improved pupil attainment and progress
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank all the staff in the schools who contributed their time to write and share practical examples and case studies. The following people also helped to co-ordinate contributions in 2022:
- Sarah Botchway, Associate Headteacher, Vauxhall Primary School
- Dame Mo Brennan, CEO, Matrix Academy Trust
- Sue Bull, Flying High TSA
- Abby Deeks, Vice Principal, West Lakes Academy
- Paul Goodman, Deputy CEO, Flying High TSA
- Alison Gormally, Headteacher, Golborne High School
- Lynn James, Executive Principal, Outwood Grange Academies Trust
- Ryan Kelsall, Deputy CEO, Eastern Learning Alliance Trust
- Jan Linsley, Teaching School Manager, Yorkshire Inclusive TSA
- David Lowbridge-Ellis, Deputy Headteacher, Barr Beacon School
- Jon Mason, NLE/Teaching School Head, Inspiring Futures Partnership Trust
- Sarah McGill, Teaching School Co-ordinator, Morris Teaching School Alliance
- Victoria Morris, Vice Principal, Chepping View Primary Academy
- Diane Reynard, Principal, East SILC
- Jill Sunter, English & Media Teacher, West Lakes Academy
- Liz Whetham MBE, Executive Headteacher, Westminster Church of England Primary Academy
- Alison Wilshaw, Director of Education, Bedfordshire School Trust
- The Teaching School Hub Council and its Chair, Richard Gill, CEO, The Arthur Terry Learning Partnership
We would also like to acknowledge those who were involved in developing and testing the original toolkit:
- Lesley Birch
- Amanda Bennett
- Helen Brown
- Michael Green
- Amanda Jackson
- Roger Pope CBE
- Melanie Shute
- Dave Smith
- Liz Wetham MBE