Commenting on figures released by the TUC to mark Work Your
Proper Hours Day today, which suggest that teachers work among
the longest hours of any profession, Dr Patrick Roach,
General Secretary of the NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union,
said:
“Teachers yet again rank among the professions working the
highest number of hours, with the TUC’s figures suggesting both
an increase in the number of teachers undertaking unpaid overtime
in 2021 and a rise in the number of unpaid extra hours worked.
“The pandemic has undoubtedly exacerbated the problem of
excessive workload within teaching still further, with nine in
ten teachers in our recent teacher wellbeing survey saying they
have experienced more work-related stress in the last year and
over half saying that levels of workload are the biggest
contributor to the growth in that stress.
“At the same time, teachers are working far in excess of their
contracted hours for what, in real terms, amounts to less pay,
thanks to the Government’s decision to impose a pay freeze on the
profession for 2021/22.
“Teachers wanting or needing to reduce their hours, in some cases
as a direct consequence of the impact of excessive workload and
working hours on their health and wellbeing, often face
significant barriers. Half of teachers in our survey said that
their school does not provide flexible working opportunities.
Member casework reveals that even where flexible working is
offered, the reality is often very far from supportive or
sufficient to meet teachers’ needs and offer them a genuine
work/life balance.
“Providing world class education for children and young people
does not and should not need to be at the expense of teachers’
health and welfare. Teachers deserve a better deal on their
working hours, workloads and pay.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
Details of the NASUWT’s teacher wellbeing survey can be found at
https://www.nasuwt.org.uk/news/campaigns/teacher-wellbeing-survey.html
