Commenting on the IWPRB Strategic Review Report, Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union said:
“Any recommendations that have the potential to deliver immediate improvements to teachers’ working conditions are welcome. However, teachers will be disappointed that the Strategic Review recommendations offer too little, too late.
“The Welsh Government needs to act with greater urgency in addressing the workload crisis in schools.
“Teachers cannot continue to soldier on under the pressure of crushing workload demands.
“The majority of teachers are reporting high levels of work-related stress and demoralisation, with the consequence that many will simply leave the profession if the Government does not get a grip of the situation.
“Ensuring high educational standards depends on a workforce that is supported and has the time and capacity to do the job.
“If the Government wants to prove they are serious, we need to see meaningful proposals that will be implemented urgently in response to the challenges faced by teachers today.”
Neil Butler, NASUWT National Official for Wales, said:
“After months of delay, the Strategic Review is not the earth shattering document that teachers had been hoping for.
“Whilst we welcome the recognition from the IWPRB that the workload of teachers and leaders is too high, little is recommended that will make any significant difference quickly.
“We have been seeking to engage with the Welsh Government for five years to achieve progress on workload reduction. The previous Education Minister promised to get a grip on the problem, but the Government failed to deliver any meaningful changes for classroom teachers.
“Promises of jam tomorrow are not going to assuage the concerns of teachers.
“We had hoped the IWPRB would have been bolder with proposals to increase PPA time, given their recognition that teachers in Wales have higher class contact time than teachers in other nations. Instead, they have parked any proposals for at least another two years.
“We have long argued for the creation of a single pay scale for teachers. The Review Body’s proposals for additional payments for excellence and the leading practitioner role offers no compensation for experienced classroom teachers who have seen their real terms pay in freefall over the last decade.
“The Welsh Government must waste no time in coming forward with the proposals needed to address the retention crisis and keep good teachers in the classroom.”
