THE Scottish Government has pledged to cut unnecessary bureaucracy from schools just days before teachers discuss strike action over growing workloads.

Michael Russell, the Education Secretary, said a crackdown on red tape would be launched by inspectors to ensure the new Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) succeeds.

On Tuesday, it was revealed teachers from the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) union were threatening to throw CfE into chaos with proposals for strikes before the end of the year.

A motion from the Glasgow branch calls on the EIS ruling council to prepare a campaign of action "including strike action" to be in place by December "in opposition to the increased workload associated with the implementation of CfE".

Any move towards industrial action would throw the roll-out of the new curriculum into turmoil – and affect tens of thousands of pupils – because it is reliant on the goodwill of teachers. It also puts the union at loggerheads with Mr Russell, who is speaking at their annual meeting on Saturday and who has made the delivery of CfE a key priority.

Mr Russell said: "It is utterly unacceptable that any school, headteacher or local authority should be able to surround the clarity of CfE with a smokescreen of bureaucracy and unnecessary paperwork. That needs to stop, and it needs to stop now. CfE is about giving teachers greater scope for professional decision-making and ensuring young people are fit to succeed in whatever destination they move to after school. Teachers must be free to do what they do best and develop their skills to deliver learning at its best. It must not be about constant form-filling and supervision."

Ken Muir, director of inspections for Education Scotland, the body that will lead the initiative, added: "We are intent on ensuring teachers' planning, recording and reporting are as streamlined and effective as possible.

"Our forthcoming inspection guidance will make clear the delivery of high-quality learning should not be impaired by excessive time spent on planning, recording and reporting."

Mr Russell is also expected to announce a range of new materials for Higher, Advanced Highers and new National qualifications when he speaks to the EIS.

Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland, welcomed the intervention. He said: "Workload will be one of the key issues debated at this year's AGM, and is the focus of a major new EIS campaign.

"It is encouraging that we are hearing positive messages from both the Cabinet Secretary and Education Scotland about the importance of reducing unnecessary administrative workload, in order to free up teachers to teach."