Teachers work too many hours, says Education Secretary

The Education Secretary said he believes teachers work “too many hours” as he unveiled plans to boost numbers in the profession.

Damian Hinds has set out measures he hopes will attract – and retain – the next generation of teachers who he says currently have to carry out “unnecessary tasks” as part of their job.

The strategy comes after data from a National Association of Headteachers survey suggests that 77% of its school leaders found recruitment a struggle last year.

Plans include a new entitlement to a two-year training package and a reduced timetable, backed by at least £130 million a year, the Department for Education said.

Bursaries will be reformed to include retention-based payments for those who stay in the profession by staggering additional payments throughout the first years of their career.

The strategy includes introducing a new one-stop system to make applications easier for would-be teachers.

Plans involve helping school leaders to reduce teachers’ workload by stripping away unnecessary tasks such as data entry.

Schools will be helped with introducing flexible working practices through a new match-making service for teachers seeking a job-share, with additional incentives to work in challenging schools.

Mr Hinds said: “I think teachers work too many hours – aggravated by unnecessary tasks like excessive marking and data entry, spending more than half their time on non-teaching tasks.

“But those who choose to become teachers chose to do so to inspire young people, support their development and set them up for a bright future – not stay late in the office filling in a spreadsheet.

“This ambitious strategy commits to supporting teachers – particularly those at the start of their career – to focus on what actually matters, the pupils in their classrooms.

“In a competitive graduate labour market we must continue to ensure that teaching is an attractive profession so we can train and retain the next generation of inspirational teachers.”

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “Teachers are the lifeblood of our schools but far too many currently leave the profession too early in their careers, and we simply must do more to put the joy back into teaching.

“The Early Career Framework has the potential to be a game-changer.

“By providing teachers with support and development during the first few years of their career and helping them to flourish in the classroom, it can help to raise the status of teaching to where it deserves to be: as a life-enhancing vocation.”

Angela Rayner, shadow education secretary, said: “Teacher recruitment targets have been missed for six consecutive years and teachers are leaving the profession in record numbers.

“Nothing in this strategy will reverse years of real terms pay cuts and the huge cuts to school budgets that have made it impossible for schools to recruit the staff they need.”