Scottish teachers vote for strike action over workload
Secondary school teachers in Scotland have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action due to excessive workload.
95 per cent of the EIS union’s secondary members voted ‘yes’ for the action, which is in response to ‘SQA bureaucracy and excessive internal unit assessments’, which the EIS claims is leading to workload problems and ‘unacceptable’ pressures on pupils.
Larry Flanagan, EIS general secretary, said: "Scotland’s secondary teachers have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action against the severe workload burden that has been generated by the SQA.
"This ballot result reflects the frustration of Scotland’s secondary teachers over the excessive assessment demands being placed on them and their pupils, particularly around unit assessments at National 5 and Higher; and the EIS now has a very clear mandate to implement an immediate work-to-contract in relation to SQA activity.”
Read moreLatest News
16/01/2026 - 11:40
Underpinning the training will be a new expectation set out in the SEND Code of Practice, confirming that all staff in every nursery, school and college should receive training on SEND and inclusion.
16/01/2026 - 10:36
A new report released by the Education Policy Institute and Sync has warned that schools and Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) could be making critical technology decisions without proper guidance.
16/01/2026 - 10:20
Colleges and universities in Scotland will be expected to meet additional 'fair work' criteria in areas such as workplace inequalities and the use of zero hours contracts.
15/01/2026 - 10:16
The Scottish Government is increasing investment in its free after school activities programme so that it reaches more children.
15/01/2026 - 09:52
The campaign aims to tackle the worrying decline in reading for pleasure, with reading rates among young people dropping to its lowest level since 2005,
