Mastering School Admin: A Lesson in Staying Organised (and keeping calm)

As a virtual assistant, I rely on my organisational skills daily, both in my work and in life. But recently, I found myself grateful for these skills in a way I hadn't quite expected—when navigating the wild world of school admin.

The school WhatsApp group can sometimes be a bit overwhelming, and the other day was no exception. A flurry of messages popped up, with parents voicing frustrations about not getting minute-by-minute updates on their children’s day and asking for login details sent weeks ago. I could feel the frustration bubbling up inside me, especially because the class teacher has been absolutely wonderful. They’re juggling so much already, and the constant flood of questions and demands from parents must be overwhelming.

I had to take a moment to stop myself from launching into a rant on the group chat—after all, I know better than anyone that not everyone is as obsessive about emails and details as I am. But I also felt for the teacher, knowing how much she’s already doing for the children. So, I stepped back, took a breath, and replied three hours later once I’d calmed down (with a little help from my trusty cup of coffee!).

Staying organised is critical in situations like these, whether keeping on top of school admin or managing client inboxes. But beyond the logistics, it’s also about staying level-headed when things feel frustrating. We all have busy lives, and it’s easy to forget a detail or miss an email. The trick is not to let those moments build into stress—and don’t forget to check your junk mail at least every couple of days. You’d be surprised how many essential updates can land there!

So next time the school admin chaos starts to feel a bit much, remember: a little patience and understanding (along with a well-organised inbox) can go a long way in keeping things running smoothly—for both parents and teachers alike.