Proposals to deliver reduced class contact time for Scotland's
teachers have been announced by Education Secretary .
The changes would provide teachers with more time to prepare for
lessons, support wider school improvement activities, and
undertake professional learning. It would also provide teachers
with more capacity to respond to diverse pupil needs, including
those with ASN (additional support needs).
The proposals would see the phased implementation of reduced
contact time, with a series of practical options explored
including:
- changes to teachers' working week, such as a flexible 4-day
teaching week model that could offer a dedicated day for
professional activities
- a move to nationally agreed minimum standards on pupil
learning hours which could enable later start times, extended
breaks, or restructured school days.
Alongside the latest fair and affordable pay settlement and the
consideration of improved terms and conditions, such as enhanced
maternity leave, the reduction in class contact time would form a
new ‘National Deal' for Scotland's Teachers.
Ms Gilruth said:
“There is much to celebrate in Scottish education. The recent
exam results underlined the strong recovery we are seeing in
schools, following the pandemic, with the poverty-related
attainment gap narrowing at National 5, Higher and Advanced
Higher levels. Scotland also has the lowest pupil teacher
ratio and the highest education spend per person of anywhere in
the UK.
“These proposals demonstrate our clear commitment to supporting
teachers and improving education in Scotland.
“It is a statement of intent to empower Scotland's teachers with
the time, trust, and tools they need to deliver transformative
learning. By investing in teacher capacity, the aim is to create
richer learning experiences and raise standards for every
learner.
“Working together, we can shape a future where reduced class
contact time is not just a logistical change, but a catalyst for
deeper professional engagement, improved wellbeing, and better
outcomes for every learner.”
Background
The proposed changes to class contact time will be set out by the
Education Secretary during a speech to the AHDS conference
in Glasgow on Thursday morning. They will be considered by the
Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers, comprising members
from teaching organisations, local authorities, and the Scottish
Government.
The Scottish Government has already provided £186.5 million this
financial year (2025-26) to support local authorities in
returning teacher numbers to 2023 levels while working to make
meaningful progress on reducing teacher class contact time.
