Page 11


 


 


NEWS


 


 


Workload – teachers’ top concern


 


Workload is the top concern for teachers in Scotland, with the vast majority saying their workload has increased in the last year.


 


A recent NASUWT survey has found that teachers are experiencing increasing stress and pressure which is being driven by attacks on their pay and conditions and the impact of the reforms to the curriculum and qualifications system.


 


The results highlight the importance of members continuing to follow the NASUWT’s industrial action instructions which are supporting members to resist these attacks on their professionalism.


 


The survey found that:


 


nearly half (47%) of teachers say that excessive workload is their biggest concern, rising to two thirds (66%) of primary teachers;


84% of teachers say their workload has increased in the last year;


the biggest driver of excessive workload among secondary teachers is curriculum changes (34%). Assessment is the next biggest driver (24%);


at primary level, assessment is the biggest workload driver (26%); lesson planning and report writing are the joint second biggest workload drivers (both 20%);


record-keeping is the biggest cause of unnecessary bureaucracy among both secondary and primary teachers;


nearly all (97%) of teachers do not feel the Government understands the realities of teaching;


nearly half (42%) of teachers say that the Government rarely or never respects teachers.


 


Revised pay and conditions agreement


 


The SNCT Pay and Conditions of Service Agreement 2013-15 comes into effect from 1 August. The Document, which the NASUWT was the only union to oppose, considerably worsens teachers’ conditions of service by allowing schools to add to teachers’ workload. Members have received extensive information on the changes.


 


Administrative tasks


 


The Agreement removes the list of administrative duties from the SNCT Handbook which removes the crucial protection for teachers being required to undertake tasks which in turn do not require their professional skills and abilities.


 


Working time


 


The SNCT has issued guidance on working hours which allows individual schools to develop their own approaches to working time. The guidance allows schools to vary the 35-hour week for a period of up to four weeks and cannot exceed more than 25 hours of class contact time in any single week. Changes must be agreed by all relevant staff and must be planned prior to the academic session.


 


The NASUWT is concerned that this advice could lead to schools attempting to increase the working week beyond 35 hours, with the consequent adverse impact on teachers’ workload. In response, the NASUWT has issued new supplementary guidance on its action short of strike action which supports teachers to resist any attempts to undermine their working conditions.


 


 


NATIONAL ACTION INSTRUCTIONS


 


Working Time


 


Members should not exceed their contractual working time of 35 hours per week.


 


Planning, Preparation and Correction Time





Members should refuse to teach their timetabled lessons if they do not have one third of their class contact time as timetabled planning, preparation and correction (PPC) time.


 


Administrative and Clerical Tasks


 


Members should refuse to undertake any clerical and administrative tasks as defined in Annex E of the Teachers’ Agreement.


 


Cover


 


Members should not exceed the contractual 22.5 hour


 


read more www.nasuwt.org.uk/IndustrialActionScotland


 

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