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Nicky Morgan must tackle teachers' workload, says NUT | Nicky Morgan must tackle teachers' workload, says NUT |
(about 11 hours later) | |
The National Union of Teachers has threatened more strike action unless the education secretary reduces teachers' workloads in England. | The National Union of Teachers has threatened more strike action unless the education secretary reduces teachers' workloads in England. |
Nicky Morgan makes her first Conservative Party conference speech as education secretary on Tuesday. | Nicky Morgan makes her first Conservative Party conference speech as education secretary on Tuesday. |
About 90% of 16,379 NUT members who responded to a survey said they had considered quitting in the past two years over excessive work. | About 90% of 16,379 NUT members who responded to a survey said they had considered quitting in the past two years over excessive work. |
A spokesman for Mrs Morgan said her speech would not disappoint the NUT. | A spokesman for Mrs Morgan said her speech would not disappoint the NUT. |
The union sent out an email survey to its members in England and Wales last weekend. | The union sent out an email survey to its members in England and Wales last weekend. |
'Utterly depressing' | 'Utterly depressing' |
It says the responses make "for shocking and sobering reading" and demonstrate the scale of the "workload crisis" in schools. | It says the responses make "for shocking and sobering reading" and demonstrate the scale of the "workload crisis" in schools. |
NUT general secretary Christine Blower called the findings "utterly depressing". | NUT general secretary Christine Blower called the findings "utterly depressing". |
"Nicky Morgan needs to address this in her speech today and in her talks with teacher unions." | "Nicky Morgan needs to address this in her speech today and in her talks with teacher unions." |
Ms Blower said large numbers of teachers leaving the profession, combined with a possible shortfall in the recruitment of trainee teachers, could be "disastrous for children and young people". | Ms Blower said large numbers of teachers leaving the profession, combined with a possible shortfall in the recruitment of trainee teachers, could be "disastrous for children and young people". |
The union says excessive and unnecessary "accountability measures" required by school leaders for Ofsted mean teachers have to spend hours making detailed records of work done by pupils in lessons. | The union says excessive and unnecessary "accountability measures" required by school leaders for Ofsted mean teachers have to spend hours making detailed records of work done by pupils in lessons. |
"The general run of teachers doing a good job should not be put through this kind of evidencing," said deputy general secretary Kevin Courtney. | "The general run of teachers doing a good job should not be put through this kind of evidencing," said deputy general secretary Kevin Courtney. |
"This treats every teacher as if they were in trouble all the time." | "This treats every teacher as if they were in trouble all the time." |
'Change of tone' | 'Change of tone' |
Mr Courtney said he believed Mrs Morgan, who took over as education secretary in July, was aware of the extent to which teachers were struggling to cope with paperwork. | Mr Courtney said he believed Mrs Morgan, who took over as education secretary in July, was aware of the extent to which teachers were struggling to cope with paperwork. |
He said there had been a change of tone in the talks since she took over from Michael Gove. | He said there had been a change of tone in the talks since she took over from Michael Gove. |
The union highlights comments from teachers who responded to the survey and stressed these were "classroom teachers and not union activists". | The union highlights comments from teachers who responded to the survey and stressed these were "classroom teachers and not union activists". |
"There is no such thing as work-life balance in this profession. It's so sad - I want to love this job but sometimes it's really hard to know how to," said one. | "There is no such thing as work-life balance in this profession. It's so sad - I want to love this job but sometimes it's really hard to know how to," said one. |
"This isn't why I became a teacher. This isn't what I want for my family. It's not fair on the pupils, it's not fair on my wife or child and it's not fair on me," said another. | "This isn't why I became a teacher. This isn't what I want for my family. It's not fair on the pupils, it's not fair on my wife or child and it's not fair on me," said another. |
More than a third said they thought about quitting "fairly constantly", with a further 46% saying they considered it from time to time. | More than a third said they thought about quitting "fairly constantly", with a further 46% saying they considered it from time to time. |
One in 10 was actively seeking another job but 10% said they never thought about leaving. | One in 10 was actively seeking another job but 10% said they never thought about leaving. |
A Department for Education spokeswoman said the government recognised teachers' workload could be "unnecessarily high" with "needless bureaucracy" stopping them spending time teaching. | |
"The Secretary of State has already made clear to unions that we have a common interest in tackling this." | |
The spokeswoman said the government had already cut over 21,000 pages of guidance, streamlined the inspection process and made it clear formal written plans are not expected for every lesson. | |
Labour's shadow schools minister, Kevin Brennan, said the government was responsible for "immense damage to school standards" by downgrading the teaching profession. | |
Mr Brennan said Labour would ensure all teachers become qualified and would open new career pathways to help the best remain in the classroom. |
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