HEADTEACHERS in Worcester have backed the findings of a website survey that says paperwork is adding to the stress already suffered by staff.

In the survey carried out by justforteachers.co.uk, 100 per cent of teachers in the West Midlands said their home and family life was badly affected by their long working hours and teaching commitments.

Thirty-six per cent said they were suffering from depression and 52 per cent were affected by insomnia.

The survey revealed that the average teacher spends 45 hours in the classroom and 17 hours preparation a week.

Ninety-seven per cent said they worked in the evenings, with the same number working through their lunch breaks.

And 95 per cent worked weekends.

Eighty three per cent of teachers said they put in longer hours than when they first started, and 70 per cent said these long hours had a detrimental effect on their teaching.

More than 400 teachers completed the survey held in July by the website funded by Eagle Star Insurance.

Workload

"The increase in paperwork is a major factor affecting teachers' workload," said Phil Evans acting headteacher at Worcester's Dines Green Primary School.

The past two years have been especially stressful for staff as the school was placed under special measures after failing an Ofsted inspection.

The school was brought off special measures in March 2000.

"Teachers have always been very keen and very happy to teach, but a lot of teachers feel some days the teaching is incidental to the paperwork," he added.

Pershore High School deputy headteacher Clive Corbett said his sympathies lay with the younger teachers.

"My wife and myself are both teachers and in the evenings we both see each other but she is working and I am working," he said.

"The important thing is that the job is wonderful as long as you don't let the paperwork weigh you down."