Education unions are split on the findings from the latest survey of teachers’ workloads in England and Wales.
The study of 2,000 teachers by the Office of Manpower Economics showed “no statistically significant changes” in full-time teachers’ hours since last year.
But secondary heads’ and deputies’ hours had gone up. Heads and teachers in primary schools were working less than in recent years, the study found.
The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) regarded it as “important confirmation of the success” so far of the national workload agreement, but said the data showed there was more to be done to reduce the burden.
The National Union of Teachers (NUT), which opposed the agreement, said it had only brought “tiny benefits” to date.
The Association of School and College Leaders said it was no surprise the figures showed that secondary heads had been working longer hours over the past year.
“This is a direct result of the non-stop deluge of government initiatives over the last few years – including the workforce agreement, where the burden of implementation has fallen mainly on heads and deputies,” it said.
The union released its own survey of 638 of its members, suggesting 51% believed their job was having a negative effect on their health.
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