Teachers must accept the need for change to working practices, says School Standards Minister, David Miliband.

Addressing the North of England Education Conference, Mr Miliband urged teachers to reach agreement over workload and the "re-modelling" of the profession.

The government says it wants to finalise a deal over changes to teachers' contracts by next Wednesday.

We are very close to a wide-ranging agreement. David Miliband, School Standards Minister

In particular, the minister is seeking agreement on the increased role of classroom assistants - and whether they should be able to take classes unsupervised by qualified teachers.

Deploying large numbers of classroom assistants is intended to reduce teachers' workload and make time during the school day for planning and marking.

Teachers would be expected to take on a more managerial role, with support staff taking on administrative tasks.

Brain surgery

"It is said we should never ask the nurse to do brain surgery. Fair enough. But which surgeon operates without a well-equipped and well-trained nursing team?" said Mr Miliband.

"To realise the vision of more personalised teaching and learning we must embrace the chance to do things differently."

This could mean lessons being delivered "under the leadership of a qualified teacher, but not only using qualified teachers".

The National Union of Teachers is opposed to classroom assistants taking charge of classes - and has so far not accepted the proposed changes.

"The NUT will not accept unqualified people having responsibility for whole class teaching as currently proposed by the government," said general secretary Doug McAvoy in response to the ministerial speech.

The union wants a more clearly defined limit on numbers of assistants in schools and the extent of their responsibilities.

Other teachers' and head teachers' unions have backed the deal over workload, but the NUT says it is willing to stand alone.

'Bus of reform'

According to the minister, agreement on teachers' working practices and workload is "very close".

And reaching for another extended metaphor, Mr Miliband appealed "to all those involved to be on the bus of reform, because it is leaving the station and is carrying the nation's teachers and students with it."

"The prize is huge: teachers with time for teaching, a profession gaining respect, pupils benefiting from more individualised attention."