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Teachers take action against SQA over workload

Teaching staff Trade unions
Scottish teachers will “withdraw cooperation” from some of their activity with the SQA after 95 per cent of those who voted in a ballot of the biggest teaching union backed action over rising workloads from exams.

First minister Nicola Sturgeon and education minister John Swinney have criticised the decision, saying it is not in young people’s interests, but the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) said its warnings over the last two years had gone unheeded. The action will not include any strikes.

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: “This ballot result reflects the frustration of Scotland’s secondary teachers over the excessive assessment demands being placed on them and their pupils, particularly around unit assessments at National 5 and Higher; and the EIS now has a very clear mandate to implement an immediate work-to-contract in relation to SQA activity.

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