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The National
2 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Teachers balloted for strike action over 'excessive' workloads
Scotland's largest teaching union, the EIS, is launching a consultative ballot for industrial action during its annual general meeting on Friday. The ballot comes in the wake of a survey by the union which revealed more than two-fifths of teachers (44%) work an additional seven unpaid hours in a typical week. The research also found 11.5% of teachers work an extra 15 hours or more per week – the equivalent of two days. READ MORE: 'Israel herding Palestinians into concentration camps,' says Gaza aid chief EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley said the ballot will highlight the 'pressing need' to deliver on a commitment to cut the time teachers spend in the classroom. The SNP 2021 manifesto pledged to reduce this by 1.5 hours a week – with Bradley insisting action is needed to 'reduce excessive teacher workload'. Speaking ahead of the AGM, which is taking place in Aviemore, she said: 'This ballot is an opportunity for our members to send a clear message to their employers and the Scottish Government of the need to honour the commitments to tackle excessive teacher workload by reducing weekly class contact time.' (Image: Alan Richardson) Accusing the Scottish Government and local authority leaders in Cosla of failing to deliver the promised reduction in classroom time, she called on union members to vote in favour of industrial action – including strikes. Bradley said: 'Only sending a strong and clear message will compel the Scottish Government and Cosla to finally take action to tackle teacher workload.' She told how 'teachers have waited more than four years' for the time they spend in classes to be reduced, saying in the meantime workload pressures 'continue to soar'. Bradley added: 'This is having a detrimental impact on the health and wellbeing of teachers, with significant consequences for the learning experience of pupils in our schools.' The recent EIS survey revealed the 'scale of the workload demands that are being placed on teachers', she said, adding this showed 'almost half' of those in the profession are working the equivalent of an extra day per week to keep on top of their workload. On the commitment to reduce class contact time by 1.5 hours per week, she said the Scottish Government and Cosla have 'failed even to produce any firm proposals on how to take this forward'. The EIS ballot comes as a second union, the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association (SSTA), is also preparing to hold a consultative survey on strike action on the issue. SSTA general secretary Seamus Searson said: 'The reduction of 90 minutes class contact time was promised by the Scottish Government four years ago and Cosla has baulked at every turn to progress the promise. 'The reduction of class contact time is a small step in addressing teacher workload and the employers have failed to acknowledge the importance of the 90 minutes to teachers. 'SSTA members have reached the end of their patience and now have no option but to resort to taking strike action to force the employers to implement a real benefit for hard pressed secondary school teachers. 'To get to this point shows a lack of respect and understanding by the employers of the challenges teachers are facing to deliver education.' The SSTA said its survey will start in the week of June 16 and run until the end of August. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'The Scottish Government will continue to work with unions and Cosla to agree our approach to delivering a reduction in class contact time, which ultimately requires agreement from the whole Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers. 'This is also why we are providing local authorities with an additional £186.5 million to restore teacher numbers, alongside an additional £29m to support the recruitment and retention of the ASN workforce. 'This funding has been provided on the clear agreement that meaningful progress is made on reducing teacher class contact time.'
Powys County Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Teachers balloted for strike action over ‘excessive' workloads
Teachers are being urged to vote for strike action in a bid to send a message to ministers on 'excessive' workloads. Scotland's largest teaching union, the EIS, is launching a consultative ballot for industrial action during its annual general meeting on Friday. The ballot comes in the wake of a survey by the union which revealed more than two-fifths of teachers (44%) work an additional seven unpaid hours in a typical week. The research also found 11.5% of teachers work an extra 15 hours or more per week – the equivalent of two days. EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley said the ballot will highlight the 'pressing need' to deliver on a commitment to cut the time teachers spend in the classroom. The SNP 2021 manifesto pledged to reduce this by 1.5 hours a week – with Ms Bradley insisting action is needed to 'reduce excessive teacher workload'. Speaking ahead of the AGM, which is taking place in Aviemore, the she said: 'This ballot is an opportunity for our members to send a clear message to their employers and the Scottish Government of the need to honour the commitments to tackle excessive teacher workload by reducing weekly class contact time.' Accusing the Scottish Government and local authority leaders in Cosla of failing to deliver the promised reduction in classroom time, she called on union members to vote in favour of industrial action – including strikes. Ms Bradley said: 'Only sending a strong and clear message will compel the Scottish Government and Cosla to finally take action to tackle teacher workload.' She told how 'teachers have waited more than four years' for the time they spend in classes to be reduced, saying in the meantime workload pressures 'continue to soar'. Ms Bradley added: 'This is having a detrimental impact on the health and wellbeing of teachers, with significant consequences for the learning experience of pupils in our schools.' The recent EIS survey revealed the 'scale of the workload demands that are being placed on teachers', she said, adding this showed 'almost half' of those in the profession are working the equivalent of an extra day per week to keep on top of their workload. On the commitment to reduce class contact time by 1.5 hours per week, she said the Scottish Government and Cosla have 'failed even to produce any firm proposals on how to take this forward'. "Having teachers who are overworked and stressed is in no-one's interest, neither teachers themselves or their families, nor the young people learning in our schools." — EIS Fife (@EISFife) June 3, 2025 The EIS ballot comes as a second union, the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association (SSTA), is also preparing to hold a consultative survey on strike action on the issue. SSTA general secretary Seamus Searson said: 'The reduction of 90 minutes class contact time was promised by the Scottish Government four years ago and Cosla has baulked at every turn to progress the promise. 'The reduction of class contact time is a small step in addressing teacher workload and the employers have failed to acknowledge the importance of the 90 minutes to teachers. 'SSTA members have reached the end of their patience and now have no option but to resort to taking strike action to force the employers to implement a real benefit for hard pressed secondary school teachers. 'To get to this point shows a lack of respect and understanding by the employers of the challenges teachers are facing to deliver education.' The SSTA said its survey will start in the week of June 16 and run until the end of August. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'The Scottish Government will continue to work with unions and Cosla to agree our approach to delivering a reduction in class contact time, which ultimately requires agreement from the whole Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers. 'This is also why we are providing local authorities with an additional £186.5 million to restore teacher numbers, alongside an additional £29 million to support the recruitment and retention of the ASN workforce. 'This funding has been provided on the clear agreement that meaningful progress is made on reducing teacher class contact time.' A Cosla spokesperson said: 'We are aware of the increased pressures across the whole local government workforce and the teaching profession is rightly greatly valued. As we continue to engage with teaching unions on the issue of workload, we have committed, along with Scottish Government, to exploring ways of reducing class contact time. 'The provision of high-quality learning experiences for children and young people depends on the education workforce being adequately supported, resourced, skilled and confident to respond to the learners in front of them. Cosla works closely with trade unions, Scottish Government, and partners, to enable the delivery of this. 'Reducing teachers' class contact time by 1.5 hours a week – equal to almost two weeks per year – will require additional resource, significant advance planning and actions to tackle existing problems such as recruitment and retention in rural areas and shortages of teachers of certain subject areas. There has to be a recognition that achieving the reduction in class contact time by maintaining teacher numbers as pupil numbers gradually decline is a challenge and will take time. 'In addition, councils will have to consider how to maintain other statutory services as the proportion of the salary bill required for teachers increases.'
STV News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- STV News
Teachers seeking clarity on single-sex spaces in schools
Teachers in Scotland are seeking clarity from the Scottish Government over guidance on single-sex spaces. The Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association (SSTA) says ministers must 'urgently' publish revised guidance to give teachers clarity. The union is calling for guidance on supporting transgender pupils from 2021 to be withdrawn following the landmark ruling by the Supreme Court over the definition of a woman. Teachers say the ruling will have a major impact on secondary schools and that guidance on single-sex spaces must be in compliance with the Equality Act. The guidance from 2021 states: 'There is no law in Scotland which states that only people assigned male at birth can use men's toilets and changing rooms, or that only people assigned female can use women's toilets and changing rooms. 'This is instead done by social convention.' It also states a transgender young person should not be made to use the toilet or changing room of their sex assigned at birth. But last month, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) issued interim advice that said that in places such as hospitals, shops, and restaurants, 'trans women (biological men) should not be permitted to use the women's facilities'. This was followed by a judge issuing an order that state schools in Scotland must provide single-sex toilets for pupils. The order came after parents won a legal challenge against Scottish Borders Council after it installed gender neutral lavatories in a primary school. An SSTA spokesperson said: 'Teachers and schools have a duty to ensure that our policies, procedures and arrangements are fully compliant with the rights protected by the Equality Act – this applies now, not months into the future. 'The Scottish Parliament appears to have had time to consider the implications of the judgement and change its own arrangements for the use of single-sex spaces – meanwhile the Scottish Government has not yet provided updated advice to schools.' Last week, it was announced trans women will be banned from female toilets and changing facilities in the Scottish Parliament. Holyrood will also be installing new gender neutral toilets in public areas of the building – in addition to existing single sex toilets – to support trans people who will be banned from using facilities that align with their chosen gender. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have confirmed that they will consult then update the statutory Code of Practice and associated guidance by the Summer. 'As the EHRC is the enforcer and regulator of the Equality Act 2010, we expect all organisations to consider its revised Code of Practice and guidance when published to ensure there is a consistent and clear understanding of the correct application of the law for all involved in this complex area. 'The Scottish Government has already begun work on implementation. We have established a Short Life Working Group to ensure support and consistency across Government. 'This work will position us towards a state of readiness to take all necessary steps when the EHRC's Code of Practice and updated guidance are published.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Teachers want clarity on single-sex spaces in schools
Teachers are calling on the Scottish government to urgently publish new guidance on how schools should deal with single-sex spaces. The Scottish Secondary Teachers Association (SSTA) said ministers need to provide clarity following the UK Supreme Court's landmark ruling over the definition of a woman. The union says schools "don't have the luxury of waiting for updated guidance" because the ruling means they are required to comply with the Equality Act now. The Scottish government said it is working towards a "state of readiness" for an update from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), the body in charge of regulating the Equality Act. First Minister John Swinney last month told MSPs that new sex-based rights guidance is being developed after the Supreme Court ruled that biological sex defines a woman for the purposes of the Equality Act. The SSTA says 2021 guidance from the Scottish government on supporting transgender pupils in schools is now incompatible with the Supreme Court ruling and interim guidance from the EHRC. Last week the Scottish Parliament announced trans women will no longer be able to use the women's toilets at Holyrood and is also installing a new gender-neutral toilet following the ruling. Gordon West, of the SSTA, says the union is concerned that teachers are caught in limbo waiting for new guidelines and, while waiting, they may be breaking the law. Mr West, a deputy headteacher who is on the union's equalities committee, said ministers need to immediately withdraw the 2021 guidance which is now "out of date". He added: "We have a duty now to uphold this ruling, not in three months' time and yet we have been told to wait for new guidance. "We know from the Supreme Court ruling that the 2021 guidance is no longer compliant with the law. Yet we are being kept waiting and we are being kept hanging on. "The 2021 guidance needs urgently removed and replaced. If the Scottish Parliament can make decisions on this why can't the Scottish ministers? "Very soon the P7 children and parents will be coming to secondary schools for their transition into secondary schools and they will be asking what is happening with changing rooms." Teaching union the NASUWT recently raised concerns at its annual conference that the Supreme Court ruling could lead to an increase in hate crimes against trans and non-binary teachers. The union in Scotland also said it was vital that gender-neutral spaces be made available for transgender pupils who are uncomfortable using the changing rooms or toilets of their sex assigned at birth. Trans people are still protected by the Equality Act. The protected characteristic of gender reassignment is not affected by the Supreme Court judgement, and while explaining the ruling, Lord Hodge stressed there were other defences against direct and indirect discrimination and harassment. He was clear that trans people are a "vulnerable and often harassed minority", who "struggle against discrimination and prejudice as they seek to live their lives with dignity". A Scottish government spokesman said that all organisations were expected to consider the EHRC's revised code of practice and guidance when it is published by the summer. He added: "The Scottish government has established a Short Life Working Group to ensure support and consistency across government. "This work will position us towards a state of readiness to take all necessary steps when the EHRC's code of practice and updated guidance are published."
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Teachers want clarity over single-sex spaces in Scottish schools
Teachers are calling on the Scottish government to urgently publish new guidance on how schools should deal with single-sex Scottish Secondary Teachers Association (SSTA) said ministers need to provide clarity following the UK Supreme Court's landmark ruling over the definition of a union says schools "don't have the luxury of waiting for updated guidance" because the ruling means they are required to comply with the Equality Act Scottish government said it is working towards a "state of readiness" for an update from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), the body in charge of regulating the Equality Act. First Minister John Swinney last month told MSPs that new sex-based rights guidance is being developed after the Supreme Court ruled that biological sex defines a woman for the purposes of the Equality SSTA says 2021 guidance from the Scottish government on supporting transgender pupils in schools is now incompatible with the Supreme Court ruling and interim guidance from the EHRC. Last week the Scottish Parliament announced trans women will no longer be able to use the women's toilets at Holyrood and is also installing a new gender-neutral toilet following the ruling. Teachers 'kept waiting' Gordon West, of the SSTA, says the union is concerned that teachers are caught in limbo waiting for new guidelines and, while waiting, they may be breaking the West, a deputy headteacher who is on the union's equalities committee, said ministers need to immediately withdraw the 2021 guidance which is now "out of date".He added: "We have a duty now to uphold this ruling, not in three months' time and yet we have been told to wait for new guidance."We know from the Supreme Court ruling that the 2021 guidance is no longer compliant with the law. Yet we are being kept waiting and we are being kept hanging on."The 2021 guidance needs urgently removed and replaced. If the Scottish Parliament can make decisions on this why can't the Scottish ministers?"Very soon the P7 children and parents will be coming to secondary schools for their transition into secondary schools and they will be asking what is happening with changing rooms." Teaching union the NASUWT recently raised concerns at its annual conference that the Supreme Court ruling could lead to an increase in hate crimes against trans and non-binary teachers. The union in Scotland also said it was vital that gender-neutral spaces be made available for transgender pupils who are uncomfortable using the changing rooms or toilets of their sex assigned at people are still protected by the Equality Act. The protected characteristic of gender reassignment is not affected by the Supreme Court judgement, and while explaining the ruling, Lord Hodge stressed there were other defences against direct and indirect discrimination and was clear that trans people are a "vulnerable and often harassed minority", who "struggle against discrimination and prejudice as they seek to live their lives with dignity". A Scottish government spokesman said that all organisations were expected to consider the EHRC's revised code of practice and guidance when it is published by the added: "The Scottish government has established a Short Life Working Group to ensure support and consistency across government. "This work will position us towards a state of readiness to take all necessary steps when the EHRC's code of practice and updated guidance are published."
