Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her Department's policy is on asking teachers to opt out of the European Working Time directive in respect of their working hours.

The School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document, which applies to all maintained schools, makes clear in paragraph 53.4 that governing bodies and head teachers should ensure that they adhere to the working limits set out in the Working Time Regulations 1998. These are the regulations that implement the European Council Directive.