Teachers will have their hours and workload cut in a bid to encourage more people into the profession, the new Education Secretary will say today.
In his first major speech, Damian Hinds will pledge action on teacher shortages caused by the rise in pupil numbers.
A sharp rise in births fuelled by migration has meant a bulge in the pupil population – and teacher numbers have not caught up.
Addressing 1,000 heads today, Mr Hinds will say it is his ‘top priority’ to make sure that teaching is regarded as ‘one of the most rewarding jobs you can do’.
In an olive branch to the profession, he will also promise there will be no further changes to the curriculum and no new tests during the course of this Parliament, aside from those already announced.
Teachers have previously complained that years of changes created by Tory reforms have caused too much stress, and they also say a heavy workload is putting off new recruits.
In his first major speech, Damian Hinds will pledge action on teacher shortages caused by the rise in pupil numbers
Mr Hinds will say: ‘Right now, we have so many brilliant teachers in our schools.
‘But, with rising pupil numbers, I recognise that recruitment and retention is difficult for schools.
‘And, clearly, one of the biggest threats to retention, and also to recruitment, is workload.
‘Too many teachers and our school leaders are working too long hours, and on non-teaching tasks that are not helping children to learn.
‘We need to get back to the essence of successful teaching – strip away the workload that doesn’t add value and give teachers the time and space to focus on what actually matters.’
It could mean teachers being required to do less marking, lesson planning and data collection work in their evenings after school. Some schools are phasing out complicated marking systems to reduce the burden on teachers.
There is now a record number of teachers, but a report by the National Audit Office found that this rise is not enough to meet the needs of the growing pupil population.
In addition, the growth in teacher numbers over the past five years has been only in primary schools, while in secondary schools, numbers have decreased by around 5 per cent.
The key to education is the person standing at the front of the class
It is estimated there will be an extra 540,000 secondary school pupils by 2025 – a rise of 19 per cent. Around 65,000 more youngsters are expected to join secondary schools this autumn alone.
Mr Hinds will say in his speech to the Association of School and College Leaders, which represents secondary heads, that he wants to devise new ways to attract, and keep, the best and brightest graduates.
He will say: ‘There can be no great schools without great teachers. The quality of teaching matters more than anything else. Above all else, the key to education is the person standing at the front of the class.’
Since 2010, a raft of changes to the primary, GCSE and A-Level curriculums have been made to raise standards, following reforms by former education secretary Michael Gove (stock image)
Since 2010, a raft of changes to the primary, GCSE and A-Level curriculums have been made to raise standards, following reforms by former education secretary Michael Gove.
But Mr Hinds will promise there will be no more reforms before the end of this Parliament in 2022 – creating stability for teachers.
Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman will add: ‘I want to look at how Ofsted can play its part in reducing workload, so that you’re able to focus on the things that matter to you and to your pupils.
‘It doesn’t matter what an inspectorate thinks if we can’t attract good people into teaching.’
She will say she will look into stopping schools from forcing teachers to do ‘endless data cuts, triple marking, ten page lesson plans, and, worst of all, Mocksteds’.