Teacher Workload

Created on: 09 Oct 2023 | Last modified: 06 Jun 2024

Workload has always been an issue of concern for the teaching profession.

However, in recent years, a number of factors have combined to push teacher workload to unsustainable levels. Budget and staffing cuts, increases in pupil numbers, rising class sizes, educational reform, the rising number of pupils with Additional Support Needs, added responsibilities on literacy and numeracy and the challenges following the lockdown during the COVID pandemic – all have combined to heap additional pressures on Scotland’s
teachers.

The EIS is stepping up activity to tackle teacher workload, calling on the Scottish Government to deliver their promise to reduce teachers' class contact time by 90 minutes per week. 

The EIS will also campaign to reduce class sizes, to recruit additional, fully qualified teachers and to reduce bureaucracy.