Workload

"Trainees benefit from excellent pastoral care. They learn strategies to manage their workload and look after their own well-being. This helps them when they take on their first teaching role." (Ofsted, 2024)

We know that workload is one of the most common reasons given for teachers and trainees leaving the profession (NFER, 2025), so Mid Essex ITT continually reviews its course to ensure that it is doing all it can to support trainees in this area. We ensure there is a fine balance between removing unnecessary workload whilst ensuring trainees learn how to manage a demanding workload and understand how to put this into practice.

Mosaic - everything you need in one place

One way in which we support trainee and mentor workload is by using Mosaic, a platform designed by Penrose Education specifically for teacher training providers. Mosaic has been transformational for us at Mid Essex ITT. It has enabled us to reform the way in which we collect 'evidence' about a trainee's progress, ensuring they are completing meaningful tasks within school. It allows us to also check on the trainee experience in real time, reassuring us that they are being observed regularly, meeting with their mentors on a weekly basis and receiving effective targets. Importantly, it has allowed us to streamline a number of our workflows, having positive effects on workload for both mentors and trainees. It can sometimes feel daunting to start using a new system, but Mosaic have a smooth onboarding process and it is really user-friendly.

https://mosaic.penrose.education/

Supporting Trainee Workload

There are a number of other ways in which we support trainee workload, for example:

Trainees have a session at our July induction training to promote their knowledge and understanding of managing their own workload
Trainees are also briefed on when it is appropriate to use AI during their teacher training (and when it is not)
Trainee workload is front-loaded in the first two terms and decrease as teaching load increases
Trainees receive a weekly newsletter (Trainee Notices) which is sent out every Thursday and has all the key information in one place
Trainees completing the PGCE will benefit from carefully chosen deadlines for the two assignments, which are mindful workload and maintaining a work-life balance. Assignment #1 is due before the Winter break and assignment #2 is due just after the spring break.
Trainees have one Study Day per term, when they are not in school and can focus on preparing for their termly report and other upcoming deadlines
Mid Essex ITT is proud to have offered a part-time and flexible teacher training course since 2019

Supporting our Mentors with their Workload

At Mid Essex ITT, we don't forget the Mentors, who are instrumental in every trainee's journey! Mosaic has been positively received by Mentors too, and we also offer the following to further support them:

Mentor training includes a section on managing your workload as a mentor
We provide a structured agenda for the weekly mentor meeting, to ensure the time is used effectively
Mentors have access to Walkthrus to support deliberate practice with their trainees
Mid Essex ITT has also produced its own bank or targets, to support mentors with setting effective targets for their trainees
There is no need for Mentors to look through evidence folders! Everything is now in one place on Mosaic.
Mentors complete three reports - one at the end of each term - and this is a straightforward process online on Mosaic
Mentors also receive a weekly newsletter (Mentor Notices) to support them with their role
Mentors can also receive nominations for 'Mentor of the Week' from their trainees, and receive a certificate and chocolate bar!