Commenting on the publication of findings from the DfE Teacher
Workload Survey 2016, Chris Keates, General
Secretary of the NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union in the
UK, said:
“The delay in the publication of data from the 2016 survey of
teachers’ working hours cannot hide the inconvenient truth that
the Government’s actions to date have failed to tackle the causes
of excessive workload and working hours which are blighting the
lives of teachers.
“Once again, the Government’s own data confirms that teachers and
headteachers are dealing with unsustainable workload demands on a
daily basis, and much of their time is being spent on activities
which are either unnecessary or which could be undertaken by
staff other than teachers.
“The education of children and young people will not be improved
if teachers remain shackled to workload demands that are
impossible to deliver.
“The Government’s own evidence confirms that the crisis in
teacher retention and recruitment is a direct result of excessive
workload coupled with real-terms cuts to teachers’ pay.
“More than 80% of teachers cite excessive workload as the main
reason why they are seriously considering quitting the teaching
profession.
“The Government now needs to take urgent action to address the
deep concerns of teachers and to guarantee working conditions
which will, once again, make teaching the profession of first
choice for graduates.
“Ministers cannot continue to leave it to individual schools to
devise solutions which will tackle the workload challenge in
schools.
“Schools are already in the grip of the worst teacher recruitment
and retention crisis since the second world war.
“A coherent Government–wide strategy is needed which secures
effective downward pressure to the workload and working hours
which are driving teachers and headteachers out of the
profession.”
