Nottingham introduces new charter to reduce teacher workload

The Nottingham City Education Improvement Board (EIB) has devised a new charter that aims to reduce workload and relieve pressure on teachers in the city.

Nottingham City believes that retaining teachers is vital to driving up education standards and so is launching the charter to improve working conditions and encourage qualified teachers to stay in the classroom.

The charter was drawn up by with representatives of teaching union officials from Unison, the National Union of Teachers, the National Association of Head Teachers, the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers, and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers.

Schools and academies are being asked to sign up to the charter which pledges to give teachers:
- A fair and reasonable workload
- High-quality training and professional development opportunities that meet the needs of individual members of staff
- Competitive and attractive pay and rewards packages
- Prohibiting the use of ‘probationary period’ contracts in schools

John Dyson, EIB board member and head teacher at Westbury School in Nottingham, said: “The Education Improvement Board has high expectations of schools in Nottingham. If every school is to be judged as good or better by Ofsted, the city must have not only strong leadership but also ensure teachers have time to focus on doing what they do best: teaching pupils to the highest possible standard.

“As a Board, it’s impossible for us not to recognise workload as a major factor affecting the recruitment and retention of teachers, not just in Nottingham, but nationwide. This charter offers a practical solution to show our teachers how much we value and respect the job that they do.”