DfE launch teacher and school leader workload reduction taskforce

The Secretary of State has established a workload reduction taskforce to support the Department for Education’s (DfE) ambition to reduce teachers’ and leaders’ working hours by 5 hours a week within 3 years.

The first meeting of the task force has just taken place with initial recommendations being made by the end of October 2023.

Teacher and leader workload and wellbeing have always been a concern for governors and trustees. NGA’s 2023 annual survey highlighted the concerns of over 2,500 governors and trustees across England. When asked about their greatest staffing challenges, 46% of those governing in maintained schools identified workload and staff wellbeing as their top issue and 47 % of local governors, SAT trustees and MAT trustees were primarily concerned with recruitment, local governing boards within MATs also prioritised workload and wellbeing.

The NGA is one of the 14 education sector leaders including the main teaching unions asked to be members of the teacher and school leader workload reduction taskforce. In addition to the NGA the Confederation of School Trusts (CST), representing all those involved in academy governance will also be involved. These two bodies regularly represent the views of those in governance nationally.  DAG are delighted that both organisations will be addressing our members at our DAG Conference on Saturday 4th November 2023 at Exeter Racecourse.  If you haven’t booked your place, please do so, full details of the conference and the booking form can be found here.