Teachers are overwhelmingly opposed to classroom assistants covering for absent teachers, says a survey.

The National Union of Teachers has published a major survey of its members' attitudes towards the government's plans to increase the number of classroom assistants.

And this has found that 80% do not want to have assistants taking over classes when teachers are not there.

The survey, which had 30,000 responses, showed that teachers were keen to maintain a clear distinction between the roles of teacher and classroom assistant.

As a respondent says: "If Tony Blair turned up for an operation, would he let the porter operate?"

Teachers as managers

Only one in seven welcomed the suggestion that assistants could lead the teaching and learning in classes.

Although there was widespread backing for the benefits of classroom assistants in their more traditional, support role.

As part of the "modernisation" proposals for the teaching profession, the government says that teachers could take on a more managerial role.

This would see many more classroom assistants in schools, taking on a wider range of tasks, including leading some lessons or covering for absences.

Attendance

Teachers were also unenthusiastic about the idea of outside managerial advisers entering schools, with 70% opposed.

Although there appeared to be a message from teachers against over-extending the role of assistants, there were areas where attitudes were less clear-cut.

Teachers welcomed help from assistants in tracking pupil attendance - and there were mixed views about assistants acting as examination officers.

And in areas such as careers advice and teaching sport, teachers were more open to the introduction of specialists to support the school staff.

The survey was analysed for the union by Dr Sean Neill of Warwick University.

Support

A spokesperson for the Department for Education said: "The government make no apologies for our plans to reform the school workforce. This is about raising standards in the classroom.

"The average teacher spends only a third of their time teaching. We want teachers to be able to spend a greater proportion of their time with their pupils.

"The only way we can do this is to provide them with the right level of support. Support for administrative and other basic tasks. But also support in the classroom working with children.

"Teaching assistants working alongside teachers have already contributed to significant improvements in the quality of teaching of literacy and numeracy.

"Highly trained teaching assistants will not replace teachers, but help pupils with their learning working under a system of supervision operated by a qualified teacher."