Education recruitment reforms 'have freed up time in teacher jobs'

Education watchdog Ofsted has concluded that reforms to education recruitment have freed up more time for those in teaching jobs.

In a new report the organisation states that an increase in the wider school workforce, including classroom assistant jobs and Special Needs Teachers, has resulted in direct educational benefits for pupils in schools across England.

Jane Joyner, divisional manager for curriculum and dissemination at Ofsted, said: "Workforce reform has freed a substantial amount of time for leaders, managers and teachers.

"School leaders and teachers told Ofsted that this had led to better use of resources."

However, the report's authors also concluded that support-based education jobs are only effective in reducing the pressure on classroom teachers if such roles are well managed, properly deployed and fully trained.

Researchers for the Ofsted report were charged with investigating the impact increased educational support recruitment has had on teacher workloads and standards in English schools since 2003.

Published On 28/01/2010