Kelly: Warning shot

Ruth Kelly has told headteachers they must accept government policies aimed at freeing up teaching time.

Despite opposition from the National Association of Head Teachers, the education secretary insisted that the policy was workable.

Addressing the Association of Teachers and Lecturers annual conference in Torquay, she said the NAFT's decision to vote against the new workforce reform agreement was "a smokescreen".

"This will be law from September and they have to implement it," she warned.

Under the new policy all classroom teachers in England will get 10 per cent of their working week set aside for tasks such as planning and marking and other tasks.

Headteachers will face legal action if they flout the new laws when they come into effect.

"They can't use funding as a smokescreen for not implementing the agreement," said Kelly.

"They should implement it, we expect them to implement it and we expect local authorities to work with schools to make sure they are implementing it."

Work/life balance

But offering an olive branch, Kelly said she wanted to address teachers' overall workload.

"We know that it can be tough being a teacher. So my commitment to you today is to sweep away unnecessary bureaucracy. And to pursue work/life balance with renewed vigour," she said.