Commenting on the TUC analysis which shows that teachers work more 'extreme' unpaid overtime than any of the other professions surveyed, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers' union, said;

"The findings of the survey confirm what we already know. Teachers are working unacceptably long hours and the pressure to do so remains as a result of the endless initiatives and pressures that are now the hallmark of our schools.

"It's clear that the workforce remodelling agreement has made no impact on the work life balance for teachers. There is also a clear link between working too many hours and the high stress levels amongst teachers. It is vitally important that the Government addresses this issue and takes its duty of care seriously.

"Teachers have always worked long hours; it is not a job that has clearly defined start and finish times. Teachers are aware of this and are used to going that extra mile for their pupils. However, the long pointless hours spent on paperwork for accountability purposes are both exhausting and demoralising and have nothing to do with educating children and young people.

"The Government needs to trust the profession and let teachers do what they do best - teach. If the culture of unnecessarily long hours for all the wrong reasons continues, the profession will become a less attractive prospect for graduates and teachers alike."