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Teachers

Time Running Out for Scottish Government to Deliver on Teacher Workload Commitment

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As Scotland's schools re-open after the summer, the country's largest teaching union, the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), is sounding the alarm on the Scottish Government's failure to deliver on its promise to address high teacher workload by reducing class contact time. The EIS has launched a consultative ballot on industrial action, with the ballot set to close at the end of the month. The union's General Secretary, Andrea Bradley, has called on the Scottish Government and COSLA to produce a plan for delivering the 21 hours commitment, with a rapid pace of action needed to address the severe and detrimental impact of workload on teachers' physical and mental wellbeing.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Scottish Government's promise to reduce teacher workload by delivering a 21 hours commitment was made in its 2021 party manifesto.
  • More than four years have passed since the pledge was made, with no tangible progress towards delivery.
  • The EIS has launched a consultative ballot on industrial action, with the ballot set to close at the end of the month.
  • Research by the EIS has confirmed that Scotland's teachers are working an extra 11 hours per week, over and above their contractual commitments, to meet workload demands.
  • The EIS has urged the Scottish Government and COSLA to produce a plan for delivering the 21 hours commitment and to take rapid action to address the severe impact of workload on teachers' health.
  • EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley has stated that the union's members will send a "very strong and very clear message" if there is a high turnout in the consultative ballot.

Statistics:

  • 11 hours: the average extra time Scottish teachers are working per week, over and above their contractual commitments, to meet workload demands.
  • 2021: the year in which the Scottish Government made its party manifesto pledge to reduce teacher workload by delivering a 21 hours commitment.
  • 4 years: the amount of time that has passed since the pledge was made, with no tangible progress towards delivery.
  • 21 hours: the commitment to reduce teacher workload made by the Scottish Government.

Sources:

  • EIS press release, "Time is running out for the Scottish Government to deliver on the commitment to address high teacher workload by reducing teachers' class contact time", 2023.
  • Educational Institute of Scotland, "EIS launches consultative ballot on industrial action over teacher workload"

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