Teachers’ workloads could be slashed in a bid to halt strikes, under plans being drawn up by the Education Secretary.
Gillian Keegan has instructed officials to schedule talks with teaching union leaders to agree a strategy to slash bureaucracy in schools.
The Government is refusing to acquiesce to unions’ demands to increase and backdate pay for this academic year. Mrs Keegan has also told unions not to expect pay rises at or above inflation next year.
However, ministers want to improve the experience of teachers to boost recruitment and retention and stop further walkouts.
“We want to reduce bureaucracy which is an issue for teachers,” said a Whitehall source said.
“Our workload reduction strategy was working before the pandemic but that has now slipped back.”
