Commenting on the OECD’s Teaching and Learning International
Survey (TALIS), Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the
Association of School and College Leaders, said:
“This report contains some worrying findings about the high
workload of teachers in England compared to other countries in
the study.
“We have committed to working with the Department for Education
and Ofsted to find ways of reducing teacher workload. However,
the factors which are driving workload are largely a result of
government policies which mean schools have to do more with less.
“Severe funding pressures have left schools with no alternative
other than to cut the number of teachers and teaching assistants.
This has happened at the same time as demands on schools have
increased. The primary curriculum has gone through a period of
enormous change while secondary schools have had to manage the
largest programme of reforms to GCSEs since their introduction 30
years ago. In addition, schools have increasingly had to provide
additional support for pupils because of cuts to local support
services and rising levels of pupil poverty.
“For many school leaders and teachers, a profession which should
be uplifting and fulfilling has unfortunately become a relentless
grind to keep all the plates spinning despite declining budgets.
And this all happens under the remorseless eye of Ofsted
inspections and school performance measures.
“This dire situation has fuelled a teacher recruitment and
retention crisis which makes it increasingly difficult to fill
vacancies, thus placing more pressure on staff.
“Whoever becomes our next Prime Minister must make education a
priority, and improve school and college funding significantly
and urgently.”
