Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

We'll cut school red tape, says minister

Ben Russell
Thursday 09 April 1998 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

STEPHEN BYERS, the schools minister, moved to head off a summer of strife in schools yesterday by promising swift action to cut teachers' workloads.

Mr Byers made an unscheduled visit to the Association of Teachers and Lecturers' conference in Bournemouth for talks to avert industrial action over school bureaucracy.

He intervened on the eve of the largest teaching conference to reassure teachers that Government plans would make action unnecessary.

He said "When the unions are fully aware of how the government intends to implement the recommendations of the bureaucracy working group there will be no reason for them to take industrial action."

Both the National Union of Teachers, whose conference starts today and the NASUWT union has voted to boycott excessive meetings and other bureaucracy from the start of the summer term. The moderate ATL is backing industrial action over workload as a last resort.

Mr Byers said "We want teachers to concentrate on raising standards and providing high-quality education. We do not want them to be diverted into becoming paper-pushers."

Mr Byers said specific measures would be outlined over the next few days and warned that disruption to government policies would not be tolerated.

Earlier, Peter Smith, ATL general-secretary, told the conference that efforts to cut paperwork were taking too long to filter down to the classroom.

A survey of 4,000 youngsters found 62 per cent thought teaching was too stressful to consider as a career. Mr Smith said. "Isn't it interesting when the pupils in the class now understand the stress of teaching them. It's not only no good for teachers, it's no good for pupils either."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in