UCAC meets with Huw Lewis, the Minister for Education and Skills, to discuss teacher workload

24 October 2014

UCAC meets with Huw Lewis, the Minister for Education and Skills, to discuss UCAC's concerns about workload

On October 6th, 2014 Ioan Rhys Jones (President) and Dilwyn Roberts-Young (Deputy General Secretary) met with Huw Lewis, the Minister for Education and Skills, to discuss UCAC's concerns about workload.
There was an astonishing response from our members to the recent workload questionnaire and the meeting was an opportunity to share some of the information gathered and to consider ways of improving a situation where:
  • 91% believe that there is too much workload;
  • 81% work over 11 hours a week outside school hours;
  • 68% cannot find a work/life balance.
For months UCAC has been attending meetings in Westminster which have considered workload and accountability and there was an opportunity to share some of the discussion with the Minister. Workload has become overbearing and has implications for the health and well being of teachers, on the recruitment of teachers and headteachers.
 
This meeting was the first step of our activities this term in which we state that the situation with regards to workload is unsustainable. Members of UCAC will have an important opportunity to send a clear message to governments in Cardiff and Westminster that things have to change as officers go on a 'Workload Roadshow' to every part of Wales.
 
This is an opportunity to continue the discussion and to empower the Union as we discuss on a school, local authority, consortium and government level. IT's crucial that as many as possible attend the meeting before we arrange a follow up meeting with the Minister.