Some 94 per cent of respondents to a survey of secondary teachers in Scotland rank excessive workload demands as a major factor undermining their mental health.
The union behind the survey is now calling for a shift away from “superficial wellness initiatives” and a focus instead on reducing the number of tasks teachers are expected to perform.
To mark International Stress Awareness Week, the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association (SSTA) surveyed 600 members using Health and Safety Executive management standards, in order to “identify and measure the specific root causes of stress, reframing the perennial issue of ‘workload’ as the occupational health hazard it represents”.
‘Unsustainable’ volume of work
The survey asked staff to rank six factors from most stressful to least stressful: demands, support, change, control, relationships and role.
“Demands” was the “overwhelming primary stressor”, the SSTA said, “confirming that the volume of work and unreasonable deadlines are unsustainable”.
Close to each other in second and third place were “support” and “change”, which the SSTA said pointed to “a systemic lack of resources and the poor management of organisational change”.
Grant McAllister, convener of the SSTA health, safety and wellbeing committee, said: “These aren’t subjective complaints; this is hard data showing a profession pushed to the breaking point.
“When 94 per cent of teachers flag excessive demands as a core problem, we must stop calling it a ‘workload issue’ and start treating it as a serious risk to health and safety.
“Our members’ GPs don’t sign them off with workload; they sign them off with work-related stress. The volume of work is simply incompatible with a sustainable career.”
Mr McAllister added: “The high ranking of ‘change’ tells a story of constant restructuring and new initiatives being imposed without consultation or the practical support needed to deliver them. Our staff are not resisting change; they are resisting change that adds pressure without subtracting unnecessary tasks.”
Call for admin tasks audit
In response to the data, the SSTA committee is focusing on action that will bring “measurable relief to members”.
This will start with an audit of administrative tasks. The union will “challenge every non-essential reporting and administrative task”.
Mr McAllister said: “Our message to school management and policymakers is clear: we are committed to moving beyond superficial wellness initiatives. Our action plan is built on elimination and empowerment.
“We will be supporting schools to create a ‘Don’t do’ list of unnecessary tasks, campaigning that any increase in minimum no contact time is ring-fenced preparation and marking, and enforcing clear boundaries on communication to ensure our members can recover and focus on teaching.”
The SSTA committee wants school leadership teams to “urgently collaborate on implementing these strategic changes”, as a way to “protect the health and wellbeing of their staff and ensure the long-term sustainability of the teaching profession”.
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