According to the department for educations survey on nearly 4,000 teachers, the average U.K teacher spends between 52-60 hours per week working. On top of class teaching, staff meetings and marking it goes without saying that a great proportion of this time is spent on planning, aka the ‘dark side of teaching’! 

Here at Mana we want to make our teachers planning a little lighter and in turn give them a few more hours’ worth of free time a week, that’s why we’ve researched and created a list of the best FREE websites for resources, lesson plans, activities and educational games. Listed below are the best websites that we found for you to use (Have something to add to this page? Just email it to luke@manaeducation.co.uk):

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/ 

For: Primary and Secondary (All subjects)

What:  Whiteboard Resources, Presentations, Activities, Work sheets and Games          

To find the resources, click whiteboard resources at the top search bar then click your subject and key stage and go from there! The site also offers some educational games for primary students.  

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/

For: Primary (All subjects)

What: Whiteboard Resources, Presentations, Activities, Flash Cards, Work Sheets, Lesson plans and target templates

This is by far one of our favourite websites. This site offers a tremendous amount of free resources ready to download straight to your computer. Already popular amongst some of our supply teachers, this website offers resources for almost all topics and subjects on the primary curriculum.

https://mathsframe.co.uk/en/resources/category/22/most-popular

For: Primary Maths

What: Mathematics Games

Looking for some maths games to play with your students? This site offers some fantastic free mathematics games for primary students with a focus on addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, sequences, number bonds, Venn diagrams and time. 

https://www.teachitmaths.co.uk/

For: Secondary – key stage 3, 4 and 5

What: Maths, English, Science, Geography, History and Languages Whiteboard Resources, Presentations, Activities and Lessons Plans

Offering a tremendous amount of resources covering most topics across the curriculum this site is not to be missed. You do have to register an account on the website in order to download the free resources but it is free to do so, PDF documents are free to download but you can pay for different formats.  To change the subject click on the ‘other subject’s’ box in the top left hand corner of the page.

https://explorify.wellcome.ac.uk/

For: Primary Science

What: Science Whiteboard Resources and Activities

Sworn by Primary teachers as one of their favourite and most used resource sites, this site offers 5 step activities for a range of different Science topics, including light, electricity, animals, plants, space and rocks – to name a few! Most topics come with either a video or picture exercise for your class.

https://global.oup.com/education/content/secondary/key-issues/ks3-science/?view=ProductList&region=uk

For: Secondary Science – Key stage 3, 4 and 5

What: Science Teaching Packs, Posters, Presentations, Lesson Plans, Activities

Gathered by the Oxford University Press, these resources are detailed and of great standard. The teaching packs could be a life saver!

https://www.bbc.com/education

For: Primary and Secondary – All subjects all key stages

What: Learner/Curriculum guides, Revision notes and Online Tests

How could we do a blog on the best free resource websites and not include BBC Bitesize? With segregated topics, key stages and exam boards, BBC Bitesize will tailor the information it gives you depending on the exam board you are using to give you the best suited information, tasks and tests.

https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/simple-lesson-plan-11910755

For: Primary and Secondary – All Subjects and Key Stages

What: Lesson Plans, Lesson plan and target templates, Teaching Packs and Presentations

Strictly, this isn’t a free website. There are an incredible amount of fantastic resources for those willing to pay, however it is always worth having a look at the limited but free resources offered, such as the templates and some free teaching resources. 

For: Primary 

What: Social Emotional Learning Curriculum Resource Materiel 

Emotional ABCs Classroom is a teacher-led, research-based, Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum that provides teachers with 20 sequential Workshops, support materials,and a flexible structure for classroom instruction. (Teachers are welcome to create a free account)

If you think we’ve missed any great websites do please let us know so that we can add them!