[logo.png] * Main Menu + News + Subscribe + About Us + Advertise + Shop + Print Edition + Jobs + Donate + Campaigns + Contact + More o Print Edition o Campaigns o Jobs o Advertise o Contact * News Categories + Britain + World + Editorial + Features + Sport + Arts * Account Management + Login / Register THE PEOPLE'S DAILY FIGHTING FUND YOU'VE RAISED: £8938 WE NEED: £9062 4 Days Remaining Donate Today * Britain * World * Editorial * Features * Sport * Arts * * * Britain __________________________________________________________________ Scotland: Stressed teachers take action over heavy workload __________________________________________________________________ Oct 2016 Tuesday 25^th posted by Zoe Streatfield in Britain STRESSED secondary school teachers in Scotland went on strike yesterday following a dispute over their excessive workloads. The walkout was backed by 91 per cent of teachers’ union SSTA and is the first phase of industrial action. SSTA general secretary Seamus Searson said the union, the second largest teachers’ union in Scotland, has consistently pushed for a reduction in a system that all sides acknowledge is workload-heavy. He said: “This is not just for ourselves but for the young people we teach. If we achieve our aim our young people will also benefit.” The SSTA welcomed Education Secretary John Swinney’s announcement that time-consuming unit assessments will be removed from next year, but warned that there has not been any progress on reducing workload pressure for both pupils and teachers. “The SSTA’s view is that teacher workload has not, and is unlikely to be, significantly reduced in the current session, especially in the area of national qualifications,” said SSTA President Euan Duncan. “We therefore have no option but to move into industrial action to protect another cohort of young people and our members.” Scotland’s largest teaching union the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) suspended industrial action following the Scottish government’s announcement that some assessments were to be scrapped. A Scottish government spokesman said the removal of mandatory unit tests would “significantly reduce” the workload of teachers. He said: “It is disappointing that SSTA has decided to commence industrial action, especially at a time when EIS has suspended action in recognition of the work we are doing to ease the burden on teachers.” Related Tags: Scotland Teachers Zoe Streatfield __________________________________________________________________ ____________________ (Submit) It looks like you've got Adblock Plus installed. The Morning Star relies on advertising revenue — please consider unsubscribing or placing us on Adblock Plus' whitelist. [2016-12-21-Feeding-Fat-Cats.gif] Owned By Our Readers We're a reader-owned co-operative, which means you can become part of the paper too by buying shares in the People’s Press Printing Society. Become a Supporter Subscribe Have the Morning Star at your fingertips, wherever you are. Subscribe Now [archives-link.png] Latest Chelsea 3 Bournemouth 0 Our Prison Service at Crisis Point Corbyn chides cleaning contractor for sackings Former ambassador: Syria policy all wrong Advertisement [thompsons-advert-jan-2015.gif] The Morning Star All Rights Reserved __________________________________________________________________ Owned by Our Readers We're a reader-owned co-operative, which means you can become part of the paper too by buying shares in the People’s Press Printing Society. Become a Supporter Info __________________________________________________________________ Privacy Policy Terms of Use Returns Policy Published by __________________________________________________________________ peoples printing press society Companies House Number: IP12750R Registered office: William Rust House, 52 Beachy Road, London E3 2NS, UK Telephone: 020 8510 0815 Website Designed and Developed by LemonDigits Ltd