Damian Hinds pledges to reduce teachers' long working hours to tackle staff shortages

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Education Secretary Damian Hinds will pledge to reduce teachers’ long working hours in a bid to tackle staff shortages – but unions say action on funding cuts and low teacher pay is needed to solve the crisis. Speaking at the Association of School and College Leaders’ conference in Birmingham, Mr Hinds will admit that rising pupil numbers is making recruiting and retaining teachers “difficult” for schools. Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, welcomed the recognition of the “teacher shortage crisis” but he called on the Government to look at low pay and funding cuts. “The Government needs to recognise that funding cuts are also now driving up workload – with class sizes increasing in two-thirds of secondary schools and teachers facing cut backs in preparation time.” He added: “And the Government needs to recognise that it must deal with the growing uncompetitiveness of teacher pay.” Mr Hinds is expected to reiterate today that the Government will not announce any new tests or exams, or changes to the national curriculum, beyond those already announced, before 2022.