Teachers’ workload agreement brings tiny benefits

11 October 2006

Commenting on statistics released today by the Office of Manpower Economics showing a reduction in teachers’ workload, Steve Sinnott, NUT General Secretary, said:

“The Government and its so-called social partners hailed this agreement as bringing a sea-change in teachers’ lives. It has done nothing of the sort. 

“A gain of 2 minutes 24 seconds for secondary teachers does not deliver a work/life balance.

“This agreement is a serious disappointment. It has brought minimal benefits to primary and secondary teachers and none at all to head teachers in either sector.

“This much heralded agreement has resulted in a workload reduction overall of less than 10 minutes a day for primary teachers and 2 minutes 24 seconds a day for secondary teachers, and this in the year when the most significant change - guaranteed preparation, planning and assessment time - was introduced for all teachers.

“Even the reduction in teaching time is insignificant. It amounts to 18 minutes a week for primary teachers. For secondary teachers it has actually meant teaching time increasing by 24 minutes a week.

“For heads and deputies too, the survey shows increased working hours overall. Heads are working two and a half hours and deputies nearly three hours more each week.”