What action is the Welsh Government taking to tackle increasing workload issues for teachers, to improve retention rates?
We know that workload and bureaucracy are key factors in adding pressure to teachers, recognising the inextricable link to wellbeing and cited as one of the reasons for leaving the profession. By taking a social partnership approach and working constructively with key stakeholders particularly over the last year, significant progress has been made in tackling the causes of workload and bureaucracy.
We have restructured and refocused our engagement arrangements with partners around the new independently chaired Strategic Workload Coordination Group which has now commenced. The Strategic Group oversees all issues linked to reducing workload and bureaucracy in schools to ensure a consistent and achievable approach. Underpinning this are three working groups focussing on finance; reporting and engagement; and policy development and implementation. These groups consider the particular workload causes in these three areas and what action can be taken to make tangible changes. All working groups are chaired by representatives of our key stakeholders and each has developed action plans with key deliverables and targets.
We will continue to work collaboratively and at pace to deliver these practical changes. This includes direct action by the Welsh Government as we continue to work with our key stakeholders to develop our workload impact assessment, which will consider the potential impact of workload on education staff of any new Welsh Government policies. In discussion with headteachers we are also developing a digital tool which will enable headteachers to quickly and easily evidence causes of workload.
By taking this action and continuing to work in partnership, we want to make a real impact at school level, reduce burden and create space for teachers to teach.