A teacher planner in Google Sheets can organise lesson preparation, resources and marking tasks in one place. Start with a simple weekly view rather than copying every school record into a new file. Use your school's approved systems for pupil information and safeguarding records.
Build a minimal weekly plan
Create columns for date, period, class label, topic, objective, resources and next preparation task. Add one row per lesson. Use fictional class labels while setting up the sheet. A link to the lesson materials is often more useful than copying all of those materials into a cell.
| Date | Class | Objective | Preparation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 September | Example Class A | Compare equivalent fractions | Prepare three worked examples and a short check |
| 15 September | Example Class A | Apply the method independently | Review the previous lesson's check before choosing tasks |
Separate preparation from marking
A second Tasks tab can hold the item, intended completion date and status. “Mark the quiz” is easier to schedule when you add the class label and number of scripts. Avoid promising a fixed reduction in admin time: a spreadsheet only helps if maintaining it costs less effort than the problem it solves.
At the end of the week, look at unfinished tasks and decide which need a new date. Do not automatically carry every item forward. Keep optional notes short enough to read before the next lesson.
Calculate percentages before comparing different tests
Do not average raw marks when assessments have different maximum scores and you intend equal weighting. In this fictional example, a learner scores 8 out of 10 and 15 out of 20.
| Assessment | Score | Maximum | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz A | 8 | 10 | 80% |
| Quiz B | 15 | 20 | 75% |
For a practice sheet, enter the scores in B2:B3, maxima in C2:C3 and use =B2/C2 in D2 and =B3/C3 in D3, formatted as percentages. Equal weighting gives =AVERAGE(D2:D3), or 77.5%. Weighting by total available marks instead gives =SUM(B2:B3)/SUM(C2:C3), or about 76.7%. Choose the method required by your assessment policy; neither is automatically the right one for every course.
Google's AVERAGE documentation explains that text is ignored. Missing work must be handled according to the applicable marking policy: a blank cell and an entered zero do not mean the same thing. Keep denominators positive in this example and do not label an unmarked assessment as zero simply to suppress an error.
Protect pupil information and formulas
Do the initial setup with invented names and scores. Before entering real information, confirm which account, storage location, sharing permissions and fields your school permits. Do not use a personal planner as an alternative safeguarding record or copy guardian contacts and sensitive notes into it by default. This guide's planning example does not require those details.
Keep formulas separate from cells you fill in regularly and check a known example after making changes. A locked cell can help prevent accidental editing, but it is not a substitute for appropriate access permissions.
Build your own or use a template
The weekly-plan and tasks structure above can be made from a blank sheet. Our Teacher Planner for Google Sheets provides a ready-made layout; check the listing for the current included tabs. The numerical example here is a separate demonstration, not a claim that every template formula has been independently audited.
For the physical classroom, see our classroom setup checklist and first-day checklist. Choose a planning system that complements the systems your school already requires.
Questions and answers
Can I build a teacher planner in a blank Google Sheet?
Yes. Begin with a weekly lessons table and a tasks tab. Use fictional data while setting up and check school requirements before adding real pupil information.
Should I average raw marks from different tests?
Not if you intend equal weighting and the tests have different maximum scores. Calculate the percentages first, and follow your assessment policy for weighting and missing work.
Does this replace school safeguarding records?
No. Use the approved reporting and record-keeping systems. This guide covers lesson planning and illustrative calculations.
Sources and checks
Source links checked on 8 September 2026. Examples marked as illustrative are created for this guide; they are not customer results.