There are so many things we love about our Weekly Academic Planner. Whether you're a teacher, teaching assistant, member of the senior leadership team, school office staff, parent, student or simply someone who loves planning their week in advance, it's been designed to help you stay organised, manage your workload and see your whole week at a glance.
Because it's so flexible, there are countless ways to use it. Some people schedule every hour of their week, while others use it to organise lessons, meetings, appointments, study sessions or weekly to-do lists. However you like to plan, this blog is packed with ideas and practical tips to help you make the most of every page, personalise your planner and create a planning system that works for you.
Getting Started: Set Yourself Up for Success
The first few things to do in your Weekly Academic Planner are to complete the key information pages. Once you've done that, use your year overview and monthly calendar spreads to mark in important dates, holidays, appointments and deadlines.
As you become aware of meetings, events, training sessions or other commitments, simply add them to your monthly calendar so everything is in one place and easy to refer back to when planning your weeks ahead.
Before you start filling in your weekly pages, take a few minutes to think about how you'd like to use them. Whether you're planning lessons, scheduling meetings, organising your workload, balancing family life or keeping on top of study commitments, having a clear system from the beginning will make weekly planning quicker and easier throughout the year.
Plan your Month Before your Week
Your monthly calendar pages are some of the most useful pages in your Weekly Academic Planner, especially at the start of a new academic year. They're the perfect place to map out important dates before you begin filling in your weekly pages.
Use your monthly calendars to record key events such as school holidays, INSET days, parents' evenings, meetings, training courses, assignment deadlines, appointments or family commitments. Seeing your month at a glance makes it much easier to plan your weeks ahead and avoid any unexpected surprises.
Many people like to colour-code different types of events using planner stickers, washi tape, highlighters or coloured pens. You could use one colour for work, another for home, and another for personal appointments, making it easy to see what's coming up at a glance when planning each week.
One of our favourite things about the monthly pages is how easy they are to personalise. Decorate them with planner stickers, washi tape, colourful pens or doodles to create a planner that's uniquely yours. Many members of our TPTC Planner Inspiration Group even decorate their monthly spreads with seasonal themes throughout the year.
Join the TPTC Planner Inspiration Group here!
If decorating your planner is your thing, this is definitely the place to let your creativity shine!
Make your Weekly Pages Work for you
This is where your planning really comes to life. Everyone uses their Weekly Academic Planner differently, so don't feel like you have to use every section in the same way. The beauty of the weekly pages is that they let you see your entire week at a glance, while still giving you the flexibility to organise it in a way that suits your role, routine and planning style.
💡 Top Tip
Plan your week before Monday arrives. Spend 10–15 minutes on a Friday afternoon or Sunday evening setting up the week ahead. Add in your lessons, meetings, appointments, duties and any important events so you can start Monday feeling organised and ready for the week ahead.
One of our favourite planning hacks is using planner stickers and colour-coding to make weekly planning quicker and easier. Many members of our TPTC Community use different colours for work, home, classes or subjects, while others use stickers from our Planner Sticker Book Vol. 1 to highlight recurring events such as meetings, PPA, break duty or appointments.
One of the best things about the Weekly Academic Planner is its hourly layout. Some people use the times exactly as they appear, while others ignore them completely and organise their week by lessons, tasks or school periods instead. The timings have been designed to be subtle, giving you the freedom to plan in whatever way works best for you.
Make your Planner Pretty!
Remember, your weekly spread doesn't have to look boring! Whether you love decorating with washi tape, colourful pens and planner stickers or prefer a clean, minimalist layout, make it a planner you enjoy opening every week. We'd love to see how you've made yours your own, so take a look at some of the inspiring weekly spreads from our TPTC Planner Inspiration Group below!
Join the TPTC Planner Inspiration Group here!
If decorating your planner is your thing, this is definitely the place to let your creativity shine!
Personalise Your Weekly Academic Planner
One of the things we love most is seeing how differently everyone uses their planner.
Some people love colourful weekly spreads filled with planner stickers and washi tape, while others prefer a clean, minimalist layout. Some colour-code every hour of their week, while others use the pages to organise lessons, meetings, appointments or weekly to-do lists.
There really isn't a right or wrong way to use your planner. The flexibility of the Weekly Academic Planner means you can adapt it to suit your routine, workload and planning style.
The best planner is one that works for you.
Weekly Planner Accessories You'll Love
Looking to complete your planning setup? These are some of the TPTC Community's favourite planner companions:
📒 A5 Planner Notebook
Perfect for jotting down ideas, making notes on the go, brainstorming projects or keeping track of anything that won't fit on your daily pages. It fits neatly inside the front pocket of your planner so it's always within easy reach.
📔 A4 Hardback Notebook
Ideal for meeting notes, project planning, study notes, CPD or keeping all your important information organised in one place.
✨ Planner Sticker Books
Perfect for colour-coding your days, highlighting appointments, meetings, birthdays and important deadlines, while adding a little personality to your planner.
🎨 Washi Tape
Great for decorating your planner, marking holidays, highlighting important dates or simply brightening up your monthly and daily pages.
📝 Sticky Notes
Perfect for reminders, temporary notes, changing plans or jotting down ideas before transferring them into your planner.
None of these are essential, but they can make planning quicker, easier and even more enjoyable. Pick and choose the accessories that suit the way you like to plan and create a planning setup that's perfect for your lifestyle.
We'd Love to See Yours!
However you choose to use your Weekly Academic Planner, remember that it's there to make planning your week easier, not add extra pressure. Don't worry about filling every hour or making every page look perfect. The most effective planner is the one that works for you and the way you like to organise your week.
We'd love to see how you've made your planner your own, so come and join thousands of teachers, teaching assistants, school staff, parents and students in our TPTC Planner Inspiration Group. It's a brilliant place to share ideas, discover new planning tips and find inspiration from others who use their planners in creative and practical ways.
Join the TPTC Planner Inspiration Group here!
Your Weekly Academic Planner is designed to help you stay organised throughout the academic year, but there's no single "right" way to use it. Whether you prefer colour-coded weekly spreads, detailed hourly schedules or a clean, minimalist layout, make it your own. Experiment with different planning styles and create a weekly routine that helps you stay organised, productive and in control all year long. 💛
