Overworked teachers clock up 60 hours a week

The latest Department for Education (DfE) Teachers workload diary survey 2013 shows how hard teachers are working.

The DfE survey found that, on average, primary school teachers and secondary school head teachers reported working more than 60 hours a week.

The survey also found that the most common reason given for unnecessary and bureaucratic tasks were preparation for Ofsted inspections and an increase in forms and paperwork. Teachers were also asked to give examples of unnecessary and bureaucratic tasks in different areas. The most common response was duplication in paperwork, marking, recording progress and data analysis, with too much detail on planning and preparation.

Martin Freedman, director of economic strategy at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said teachers were now fitting in the equivalent of an extra full day a week, by working during evenings and weekends.

He added: “These figures expose [education secretary] Michael Gove’s claim that the country’s educational achievements would be improved if only teachers worked longer as utter rubbish.”

The TUC also highlighted the plight of teachers doing the most unpaid overtime as part of “Work your Proper Hours Day” on 28 February. The 2013 Labour Force Survey showed teaching and education professionals ranking at the top of occupations doing the most unpaid overtime — 12 hours unpaid overtime each week.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teachers-workload-diary-survey-2013