It’s that time of year again.

You may have spent the past few weeks giving shifty smiles to the person whose unhappy job it is to organise the timetable. Or maybe you’ve been hitting refresh on SIMS, hoping for an update.

And now it has arrived.

Which means there’s nothing you can do about it, right? Well, not quite.

Here is my advice on what to do if your 2021-22 timetable isn’t what you were hoping for. 

Problem: Split classes 

No one chooses this option. The chances are, if you’ve found yourself with a split class, this was the only resolution and it is unlikely that you will be able to change this.

If this is the case, use the time in the remaining weeks to get to know your partner teacher. You need to get answers to some key questions: how can you balance the workload and ensure pupils get a fair deal? Can you work from a shared booklet or have a “class log book” you both write in? If it is an uneven split, how will the teacher with random lessons ensure this is still effective class time?

You might want to agree to put in place fixed lessons where, once a fortnight, you always have a quiz or recap lesson, or maybe timed essay practice.

Then you need to agree on the marking load, particularly if you’re teaching an essay-based subject, to avoid resentment further down the line.

Problem: All top/bottom sets 

This is a conversation you need to have with your subject leader - and quickly.

Although this can feel daunting, if it was an unexpected decision or one you feel is unfair then it’s important to address this head on.

It might be the case that the thinking behind the decision needs to be explained to you - it could be that you are genuinely the best person for those pupils. In that case, this is a compliment.

In this scenario, you best use of time is to invest in your own continuing professional development by reading up on strategies to support the profile of the classes you are taking on: what will you be able to trial and evaluate?

However, it could be the case that this has been done in error. Most subjects will have at least one other class running at the same time, so swaps can be possible. It’s then important that this is made official quickly, before pupil timetables have been printed.

Problem: uneven split of PPA

As with split classes, this is unlikely to be something easily ironed out, so your best bet is to plan your non-contact time with precision and stick to it.

Sometimes, an hour of planning, preparation and assessment (PPA) time can melt away in a flash, especially if it is after a break or lunchtime. This is not going to aid your work-life balance if you waste a PPA drinking coffee and chatting with your work pals but then have four days of back-to-back lessons.

What will help is to plan for a sensible way to ensure you are able to manage full days with little respite. This means being organised with your resources, so that you’re not spending break and lunch at the photocopier - you need to sit down and eat. Pack a nourishing lunch for those days and an extra bottle of water.

Then think about when you will build in more “hands-free” lessons - retrieval quizzing, reviews, extended writing and silent reading should play a part in every subject. How can you balance it so that each day, one of your classes has a lesson that requires less input from you?

Problem: Over-allocation

If your department is understaffed, or you’re being used to make up numbers in a different subject, you might find yourself with less PPA and non-contact time than you’re entitled to.

Check out what your rights are and the number of free periods you’re due, and then speak to your line manager about your hours.

Usually, if this has happened deliberately, schools will be able to offer an early finish another day or a lighter timetable later on in the year. It’s important that you have everything agreed in writing and seek advice from your union if you’re not happy with the outcome.

Expectations vs reality

The truth is that there will be years where timetables are harder than others. And it’s also true that dream timetables can soon turn into nightmares when you actually start teaching them. 

What really matters is trying to go in with a positive attitude and working out what works for you, while also making sure your rights and entitlements are being honoured.