Teachers’ union suspends workload industrial action

Teachers - credit Ivan T

Scotland’s biggest teaching union the EIS has suspended planned industrial action over workload in the wake of a recent announcement to cut the numbers of assessments in school qualifications.

EIS members had voted overwhelmingly in June to restrict their work due to an over burden of paperwork, demanding the Scottish Government take a tougher approach with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) over assessments.

The decision to call it off follows an announcement by Education Secretary John Swinney last week to including remove the assessment burden on National 5 and Higher qualifications and streamline guidance for teachers.

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The cut in unit assessments from the secondary school qualifications was ratified yesterday by the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board.

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said the change had been a “significant victory” for teachers, but warned the SQA to “deliver” on the commitment.

“While we have today suspended our industrial action in relation to SQA activity, the EIS is very clear that our wider advice to members on appropriate steps to cut out excessive workload and reduce bureaucracy remains active.

“We are also very clear that, having reached agreement, we fully expect the SQA to deliver fully what has been promised on schedule.

“Today is not the end of the process of cutting SQA workload, but demonstrates our good faith in the promises that have been made. It is now for the SQA to deliver its commitments, and the EIS will be watching very closely to ensure that all the promises that have been made to pupils and teachers are kept.”

This week SQA chief executive Dr Janet Brown told MSPs :"We recognised the unit assessments were causing issues within schools and we put in place actions to undertake that. The deputy first minister has decided to take the approach to remove unit assessments and that should free up some time for additional teaching and learning."