Independent School Teachers 'Overworked'

Tue, May 02, 2006

Source: ATL

There has been no improvement to work-life balance for independent school teachers in the last two years, according to a new survey.

There has been no improvement to work-life balance for independent school teachers in the last two years, according to a new survey.

Almost half of teachers said that they felt stressed because of their workload and two thirds said they were regularly working over 50 hours a week.

The survey by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) shows a four per cent increase in teachers who regularly work 50 hours since ATL's 2004 survey and says that teacher's workloads are still rising.

Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of ATL, said: 'Unless management in these schools accepts there are problems, teachers will continue to struggle with ever increasing workloads.

'Stress levels are at an all time high, with teachers seeking medical advice, suffering from poor health or leaving the profession altogether - this can't go on.'

The ATL will use the results to highlight the gulf in working conditions between the state and private sector, where teachers still have no safeguards against working long hours.
It claims that it explodes the myth that working in the private sector is more attractive than working in a state school.
A 32-year old male teacher, working at an independent school in Hertfordshire, told ATL:
'I feel that keeping classes open at weekends and until 9pm every night during Lent term is expected, not extra.'

In the survey of 1,000 teachers, 47 per cent said that they felt stressed, 17 per cent more than in 2004.

www.atl.org.uk