TM4T Setting Up Your System 2.1.1.2 - Calendar Interview
Don't let the school year come as a surprise.
This questionnaire should be carried out using a copy of the school calendar (either the current year or previous year). Depending on the contents of the calendar, and the key events of the school year, you may need to tweak the questions.
Your interviewee should be an experienced member of staff (at least two years in the school). Don't talk to any of these annoying super-teachers who never have a problem. You need someone who is not immune to the pressures which affect most mortals in teaching. If they don't shake their heads at one stage and say 'it's really, really busy' then you've probably got the wrong person. Ideally (this won't always be possible) you should interview a person from your own department.
Q: Which is the busiest term and why?
Q: When are the quietest term times?
Q: Where are the hot-spots in terms of workload? What is involved?
Q: When does formal assessment (exams etc) take place?
Q: How does reporting and parental contact (eg parents evenings) work?
Q: When are teaching timetables usually available in draft? When are they finalised? Do they every change during the year?
Q: What kind of things tend to go wrong in the early weeks of Autumn term?
Q: (Reviewing calendar) Which of these events involve an increased workload? What is involved?
Q: (if there is no calendar): Which of these events involve an increased workload: sports days, parents evening, open days, work experience, school competitions, performances. Are there any other special events like these?
Q: How do ends-of-term work? Do we do anything special in school?
Q: How do external exams work? What's the impact on teaching in general?
Q: How does student study leave work? What's the impact on teachers?
Q: How many observations might I expect in a term?
Q: What meetings are likely to occur during the term? What kind of work might arise from these meetings?
Q: How are new courses introduced work in this school? Are they well-resourced?
Q: What is involved in being a form tutor? How much work is that?
Q: How much work is involved in behaviour management in this school?
Q: What 'duties' (eg breaktime supervision) do we do? How much work is that?
Q: Is there any work involved in looking after the staff-room or social area?