As most new teachers rapidly discover, the ‘to do’ list grows at an enormous pace as soon as the school year kicks off. It’s easy to be immersed in a tidal wave of post-it notes, scraps of paper and memoranda – and equally easy to overlook key dates or deadlines and to feel that you’re never going to swim to the surface.

1. Keep it all close at hand

A customised notebook or notepad is the perfect way to maintain a record of vital information in a single, practical place that’s always nearby. Whether you’re jotting down notes on pupils’ progress, recording the dates of school events or making a ‘must-do’ list for the next day, a notepad is surely the simplest and most cost-effective way to stay on top of the demands of the job.

Our products can even be customised to reflect your school’s identity and ethos, so be sure to show one to your school's head!

2. Manage your working week

Teachers work some of the longest hours of any profession and it’s easy to become overrun with work every evening and weekend. Organising your weekly schedule will help you minimise the time spent working at home and could even afford you a night off in the week. Nominate certain days when you can stay at work later to complete marking, so that you can enjoy relaxation time when you reach home and, on some days, arrive at work as early as possible – you’ll be amazed how much more you can do when the building is still empty!

3. Use your PPA time effectively

PPA time – 10% of your teaching timetable – is your right as a teacher so make sure you use it effectively. During this time, work away from your classroom so that you’re not constantly disturbed by queries or behavior issues and have a clear target for what you wish to achieve, such as completing the next week’s planning.

4. Delegate!

If you have a teaching assistant working with you, make sure you use his or her time effectively to relieve you of mundane or time-consuming tasks. Photocopying, cutting and laminating might be easy activities but your time as a teacher can be spent in far more productive ways!

5. Surf the net

Remember, you’re only one of thousands of teachers in the UK, many of whom have already prepared resources for the lessons that you’ll be teaching this year. There are a great many online resources where you can download lesson plans, worksheets and even display materials freely or for a minimal charge – and you could be saving yourself hours of work!

So if you’re hoping to start the new school year as smoothly and stress-free as possible, make sure you follow these simple tips and browse our superb collection of customised notepads and notebooks which are bound to be the envy of the staffroom.