Q: What should and shouldn't I be using gained time for?

There is no connection between gained time and cover. 

Those teachers who have gained time should use it for professional duties, such as: 

• Developing/revising departmental/subject curriculum materials, schemes of work, lesson plans and policies in preparation for the new academic year. This may include
• developing/identifying appropriate materials for use by and in support of, for example, non-specialist colleagues or supply staff, as appropriate 
• Responding to examination specification changes
• Elective CPD 

Gained time will reduce workload for those who get it and will also provide some ‘pay-back’ for work done throughout the year on such tasks as: 

• Report writing – scheduled and ad hoc 
• Marking and Assessment 
• Meeting parents about individual pupils 
• Telephone calls to parents 
• Dealing with emails 
• Supervising pupils in detentions 

These suggested uses for gained time also help the school/college by giving additional planning time to teachers and, therefore, assisting the school in meeting its statutory obligation to put downward pressure on workload.