SCOTTISH secondary teachers are to be balloted on industrial action after talks on reducing their workload failed to reach a solution.

The move by the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) teaching union, which could involve a work to rule, comes amidst long-running concerns over extra work involved in new exams.

There have been significant changes to qualifications under Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) with new exams replacing Standard Grade which involve more classroom assessments - administered by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

If a work to rule is approved it could involve a boycott of all internal assessments which would hit the qualifications of thousands of pupils.

Larry Flanagan, EIS general secretary, said the decision to move to a ballot was a result of the "increasingly severe workload pressure" facing secondary teachers.

He said: "The introduction of new qualifications has, at times, been rushed and has also been significantly under-resourced and the demands placed on teachers as a result have been both excessive and unsustainable with serious implications for health and wellbeing.

"Significant pressure has also been placed on pupils both as the result of the changing qualifications system and due to continuing over-assessment in order to meet requirements of the SQA.

"Excessive workload related to the new qualifications and the SQA procedures continues to place a huge burden on pupils and teachers alike and the clear message from members is that enough is enough."

A Scottish Government spokesman said officials were working with the EIS to address workload issues and unnecessary bureaucracy in schools.

And the government said the SQA had already reduced some administrative work associated with the new qualifications.

The spokesman added: "We would urge the EIS to continue to pursue its concerns through the ongoing group discussions rather than industrial action. Industrial action would not be in the interests of anyone, least of all pupils and parents.

"We are committed to making sure councils have the right number and highest quality of teachers in our schools, which is why we have offered councils £51 million to safeguard teaching posts."

A spokesman for council umbrella body Cosla expressed disappointment.

He said: "No sooner do we get pay negotiations agreed we hear the EIS is balloting for industrial action on something that formed part of that agreed deal.

"We as employers recognise the legitimate concerns of the teacher trade unions regarding bureaucracy and workload and in recent pay negotiations we arrived at a joint statement which all sides agreed would help this problem.

"We are surprised, therefore, to learn about the ballot in relation to industrial action."

The EIS later said the pay deal had no connection with the latest dispute.

A spokesman for the SQA said qualifications had been streamlined following the workload concerns.

He said: "We are very conscious that teachers continue to need support to implement the new qualifications.

"That’s why we have worked hard... to offer the support and materials needed to make the new qualifications a success.

"That support, engagement and commitment continues."