ABSTRACT
All teachers have problems of shortage of time both within the classroom and for those many other tasks which form an essential part of the job. Of all the resources available, time is the only one which has absolute finite limits, it is often the scarcest, the most elusive, the one that gets used up most quickly. Recent research, plus evidence from OFSTED inspections and the TTA, has identified that most middle managers, given the time, would do more of what is expected of them, i.e. to lead and manage. Effective users of time rely to a great extent on the planning processes outlined earlier, but so often time is wasted by an over-concentration on the brief contacts and queries and the more routine day-to-day tasks that are common in all forms of middle and senior management roles. The term ‘routine’ does not mean ‘unnecessary’ or ‘boring’. Routines are established to ensure the success of the team and the school, they are repetitive and predictable and can therefore be planned. However, the increase in statutory administrative tasks, imposed by recent legislation, by the National Curriculum and its assessment and by the periodic impact of OFSTED inspections, has placed additional demands on the time available for all teachers.
