5 tips to reduce your pupil report workload

See examples of time-saving report-writing strategies from other schools, with advice on how to streamline and improve your reporting processes to parents and carers.

Last reviewed on 2 May 2023
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 35082
Contents
  1. Reduce written comments
  2. Follow a formula
  3. Relax marking/planning requirements at report-writing time
  4. Use comment banks wisely
  5. Pace report writing throughout the year

If you're planning on changing how you write reports, make sure you are meeting your statutory requirements around reporting to parents in another article from The Key Leaders.

Reduce written comments

Remove subject-specific written comments

Instead of writing detailed comments for every subject, ask teachers to provide grades for behaviour, classwork, homework and assessments per subject and/or a target for improvement.

Class teachers in primary and form tutors in secondary are then responsible for writing general comments about the pupil, based on these grades, verbal feedback from other staff members or subject teachers, and their own observations.

Use colour codes 

Save time, and make it easy for parents and carers to understand their child's progress, with a RAG system (red, amber, green).

Provide a key to make