By Justin Parkinson BBC News Online education staff, in Bournemouth

Almost half of schools have failed to act on measures to reduce teachers' workload, a survey suggests.

A workload agreement, signed last year, demands that tasks like photocopying and typing are carried out by classroom assistants.

But, the Association of Teachers and Lecturers found, 42% of schools were not implementing it.

The union, holding its annual conference in Bournemouth, spoke to 84 teachers for its survey.

'Not good enough'

It also found that 89% of respondents were not enjoying a "reasonable" work-life balance.

Ralph Surman, a member of the ATL's national executive, said: "This is simply not good enough."

Under the terms of the agreement - signed by the ATL, its fellow education union the NASUWT and the government - state schools in England have a duty to take 21 administrative tasks out of teachers' hands.

Almost half of the teachers taking part in the ATL survey said the implementation had been mixed.

The union has already promised to back strike ballots in areas where local authorities do not act on the agreement.

ATL's general secretary, Mary Bousted, said: "It is clear there is still an enormous amount of work to be done to bring the full benefits into every school.

"We are prepared to put in the work on our members' behalf and we will not ease the pressure on government until we see sufficient funds to enable schools to implement the agreement, in full, across the country.

"Teachers deserve nothing less."