Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to reduce teacher workload during this Parliament.

Removing unnecessary workload for teachers is a priority for this government.

In October 2014, we launched the ‘Workload Challenge’ asking teachers for views on how to tackle unnecessary workload. On 6 February 2015, we published our response to the Workload Challenge Survey which included a comprehensive programme of action. Additionally, we have set up three review groups to address the three biggest issues emerging from the Workload Challenge – ineffective marking, use of planning and resources, and data management. The groups will report to the Secretary of State shortly with principles for teaching practice and recommendations on how to eliminate unnecessary workload. The response to the survey can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/415874/Government_Response_to_the_Workload_Challenge.pdf

It is clear that the issues are complex and change will take time. We will continue to work with the teaching profession to make sure they have the ongoing support they need. We are currently taking forward the first biennial Teacher Workload Survey, a commitment from the Workload Challenge. This commitment will allow us to track teacher workload over the coming years so that action can be taken if needed.