The “social partnership” - a group consisting of the Government, employers, and all of the school workforce unions except for the NUT - sign the national workload agreement. This introduces a series of changes to reduce the burdens on teachers and pass duties on to support staff.

September 2003

Teachers stopped from doing 24 administrative and clerical tasks, including bulk photocopying and data input. Clauses introduced requiring all schools to take steps to offer teachers a sustainable work-life balance.

March 2004

Selected schools begin piloting guaranteed time for planning, preparation and assessment (PPA), to make up 10 per cent of teachers’ timetables every week.

September 2004

Limit introduced stopping teachers covering for absent colleagues for more than 38 hours a year.

March 2005

The National Association of Head Teachers pulls out of the social partnership, saying primary schools do not have enough money to pay for PPA time.

September 2005

PPA time becomes compulsory across England, and dedicated time for headteachers to plan is also introduced. Teachers no longer allowed to invigilate exams.

December 2005

Teaching and learning responsibility payments (TLRs) of up to pound;11,250 begin replacing management allowances.

September 2006

Implementation of new performance-related pay is delayed after threats of legal action from the NUT.

January 2007

The NAHT votes to rejoin the social partnership, after Government officials agree to fund an analysis of PPA funding.

September 2007

New performance pay system comes into effect, linking teachers’ progression up the pay scales to their continuing professional development and success meeting targets.