Scottish secondary school teachers are to be balloted for industrial action, in the latest development in an ongoing row over teacher workload.
A recent consultative survey revealed that 72% of members were willing to take strike action amid concern about contact time with children and young people.
Teachers across Scotland have called for a ninety minute reduction in contact time, which would allow them to prepare lesson plans and mark exam papers.
In a statement, Seamus Searson, the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association’s General Secretary, said: “Tackling excessive teacher workload is now our top priority, following the settlement of teacher pay for 2025–2027.
“The SSTA, alongside our sister teacher trade unions, is embarking on a campaign of industrial action to secure a long-overdue reduction in class contact time for all teachers.
Searson called the proposed cut of 90 minutes ‘modest but significant’ in a bid to cut down on ‘unsustainable workloads’.
He said: “The Scottish Government promised to reduce class contact time four years ago; yet, despite countless meetings and discussions, we remain no closer to seeing that promise fulfilled.”
SSTA President Monique Dreon-Goold added: “SSTA members are struggling under the excessive workload demands placed upon them. School bureaucracy has spiralled out of control, pulling teachers away from their most vital role — teaching and learning in the classroom. The additional tasks expected of teachers today bear little resemblance to their workload just a decade ago.
“Schools must refocus on supporting classroom teaching and remove the impossible demands that hinder rather than help. It is time to let teachers teach.
“SSTA members must stand together to demand a fair and reasonable workload that protects their wellbeing and the future of the profession. The reduction of 90 minutes in class contact time is only the first step in that fight”.
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Last month, a Scottish Government spokesperson said they were committed to working with teaching unions.
They said: “Ministers have been clear that reducing class contact will help support the time and space necessary for teachers, to allow them to drive improvement and reform in our schools and improve outcomes for their pupils.
“We are committed to working with teaching unions and Cosla to agree our approach to delivering a reduction in class contact time at pace.”
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