IC Workload Analysis
This report, prepared by the Research & Development Cell, Education Department (Beaconhouse School System), presents an updated analysis of Instructional Coaches’ (ICs) workload, focusing on the extent of workload reduction, task distribution, and factors influencing IC attrition across 32 clusters. The study compares findings from 2021 and 2024, incorporating responses from 272 ICs and 32 Cluster Conveners (CCs).
Results indicate a notable decrease in ICs’ teaching workload since appointment, with the average number of lessons per week dropping by 21% (from 24 to 19) in 2024. However, workload reduction remains uneven across clusters—while 33% of ICs experienced reductions greater than 25%, 49% received 20% or less, and 22% reported minimal (0–5%) change. Only 5 clusters achieved the policy target of a 25% reduction, and 18 clusters reached at least 20%.
The most time-consuming IC-related task continues to be conducting mandatory courses, consuming an average of 5.3 hours per week, followed by informal PD facilitation and teacher coaching. Among non-IC duties, copy checking and lesson planning remain the heaviest, taking 3–5 hours weekly on average, with 50% of ICs spending 5+ hours on copy checking—up from 30% in 2021.
Comparison between IC and CC perspectives shows a perceptual gap: CCs reported a 25% average workload reduction, aligning with policy, while ICs reported only 21%, suggesting optimism bias among supervisors.
Regarding attrition, 52 ICs (1.25 per cluster) left the role in 2024—87.4% voluntarily and 12.6% involuntarily. The leading reasons were career advancement (47%), personal factors (29%), and relocation or salary (10.5% each).
Overall, the study underscores that while IC workload reductions have improved modestly since 2021, variability, administrative overload, and inconsistent implementation persist. The report recommends standardising workload policies, minimising non-coaching duties, and enhancing support systems to ensure ICs can effectively fulfil their professional development and mentoring roles.
