Many teachers in Scotland believe their workloads have increased despite a deal on pay and conditions, a survey suggests.

The McCrone agreement introduced last year was designed to ensure teachers did not work more than a 35-hour week.

But according to the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association (SSTA), many teachers reported their workloads were up.

Some said they believed the volume of work they tackled was as a direct result of the agreement.

SSTA general secretary David Eaglesham said many teachers felt the agreement had not had the desired effect.

The McCrone deal was welcomed

"Two thirds reported that over the last year, their overall workload has increased and over 60% believed that the introduction of the 35-hour week had not changed their workload, whilst 37% believed that it had actually increased workload," he said.

Of the 996 teachers surveyed, 91% felt no tasks had been removed by the McCrone deal.

And 54% reported their workload had risen beyond the 42-hour level of April 2000.

The McCrone agreement, headed by Professor Gavin McCrone, was backed by 80% of Scottish teachers in 2001 and viewed as something of a breakthrough.

'Red tape'

Under the deal teachers will get a pay rise of at least 21.5% by the summer of 2003.

A further 3500 support staff will be recruited to cut paperwork and more money for new chartered teachers.

The SSTA said the survey refuted "ill-founded" suggestions that teachers were not fulfilling their side of the McCrone agreement.

Mr Eaglesham said: "Teachers have always worked well beyond the formal requirements of their job for the benefit of young people and it is clear that this remains the case.

"There is an urgent need for more support for teachers to allow them to be able to use their professional skill more effectively rather being tied up in red tape."