PRESSURE on schools to implement new national tests will add to spiralling teacher workload, politicians have said.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats issued the warning after the Scottish Government announced a new expert group to look at reducing the burden on teachers.

The group will look at how schools can reduce the impact of internal assessments introduced under the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) reforms.

But it comes just a day after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced further details of the introduction of new national assessments.

Although the tests are not compulsory and data will not be published the Scottish Government said it expected councils to sign up to their use.

Liam McArthur, Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesman, said: "Scottish teachers are being stretched to the limit. Not only are they having to get to grips with new qualifications, but they are also coping with increased class sizes and face the prospect of deep cuts to council education budgets.

"Although I’m pleased this group will examine issues surrounding teacher stress and workload.... it is at odds with the First Minister's determination to reintroduce national standardised testing."

However, the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) teaching union welcomed the establishment of the Working Group on Improving School Qualifications, which will be chaired by Learning Minister Alasdair Allan.

The EIS recently held an indicative ballot of secondary teachers in relation to the excessive workload demands associated with the new qualifications and over 93 per cent backed industrial action.

Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the EIS, said: "We welcome the fact that an initial report from the group is to be made by the end of March to ensure changes are made for the 2016/17 school session.

"Whilst this is a challenging timescale, the EIS will enter into constructive engagement with the working group with the intention of reaching a workable agreement on real and lasting reductions to the bureaucracy, workload and stress associated with the new qualifications.”

Announcing the move, Education Secretary Angela Constance said it was vital to tackle the issue of teacher workload.

She said: "We must continue to do all that we can to free up our teachers to teach, lessening workloads through tackling bureaucracy and minimising stress for the benefit of all in our education system.

"Following the introduction of the National qualifications now is the right time to look in depth at what further improvements can be made in schools."

Meanwhile, Eileen Prior, executive director of the Scottish Parent Teacher Council, stressed the importance of getting god quality information to parents following the introduction of standardised tests.

She said: "Parents want good quality information and communication with schools, but in a recent survey we found half didn’t know if their school used standardised testing despite the fact 30 local authorities already do.

"Overall, parents don’t want league tables of primary schools, they don't want to see high stakes testing for primary pupils and they don’t want teaching to the test."