Teachers vote to take action over heavy workload

TEACHERS are to launch industrial action in Scottish secondary schools in a bitter row over soaring workloads.

Ninety-five per cent of members of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) who voted backed the move – but the turnout was only 43 per cent.

Teachers have repeatedly spoken out against the impact of the introduction of new exams.

They will now withdraw cooperation with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and may in future boycott the marking of pupils’ assessments.

The deepening row comes as another union – the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association – threatens to stage industrial action over the assessment row.

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said the ‘ballot result

‘Excessive demands’

reflects the frustration of Scotland’s secondary teachers over the excessive assessment demands being placed on them and their pupils’.

The burden on teachers came after National 4 and 5 qualifications were brought in to replace Standard Grade exams in 2014.

Term-time tests known as unit assessments have created a surge in workload.

A review of the assessment requirements in every subject under the new system is now being carried out by the SQA.

Education Secretary John Swinney said: ‘Given that we are addressing the issues of teacher workload, industrial action in our schools would not be in the interests of anyone.’

Scottish Tory education spokesman Elizabeth Smith said: ‘The Scottish Government must take some responsibility for this unrest.’

Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson said: ‘If the SNP wants to reduce workload, removing the Named Person responsibilities would go a long way to doing that.’

An SQA spokesman said: ‘We are disappointed the EIS has decided to take this action.’