Guide for teachers
A simple homework and marking tracker that doesn't become another job
When books come in, record their status then. A simple class grid gives you somewhere to check what is still missing and what needs marking, without reconstructing the pile on Friday.
Keep it to four states
Every pupil on every task is in one of four states: not handed in, handed in, marked, or missing (overdue and chased). That is enough to run your marking and your follow-up. Scores and comments belong in your mark book or the work itself; the tracker is about the workflow.
One grid per class
Put pupils down the side and tasks across the top, one grid per class. At a glance you can see a pupil with three gaps in a row, or a task nobody has finished. The same layout works in a spreadsheet, paper register or app.
Update it at the moment of collecting
The tracker only stays accurate if you update it when work is handed in, not at the end of the week. Tick off names as books or sheets come in, or as pupils show you work on screen. You will have a more useful record than a list rebuilt from memory at the end of the week.
Make marking a rhythm, not a pile
Decide when marking happens and tie it to the tracker. For example: handed-in work gets marked within a week, and on Friday you look at the grid for anything still sitting in "handed in". Use the count to choose what to mark next and to spot work you need to return.
Keep a short chase list
Once a task is past its deadline, the pupils who haven't handed in form your chase list. Deal with them in one go: a quick word, a note in the planner, or a message to home if it is a pattern. Clearing the list weekly stops small gaps turning into big ones.
Protect pupils' privacy
Use first names or initials only, avoid adding anything sensitive such as medical or safeguarding details, and check your school's policy before storing pupil names in any third-party tool. Delete the data when you no longer need it.
Can I do this in a spreadsheet?
Yes. A grid with pupils down the side and tasks across the top, with a simple status in each cell, works well. An app mainly saves you the setup and gives you the chase list automatically.
How do I stop tracking taking too long?
Only track what you will act on. If a status will never change what you do next, drop it.