Education secretary Nicky Morgan has promised teachers that she will make it her personal mission to reduce their workloads, as she

Speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, the MP for Loughborough acknowledged that this has long been a problem that has held teachers back from delivering the best in education.

Many news and media organisations noted that her tone was more sympathetic and open than her predecessor Michael Gove, the current chief whip, who was known for his dogmatic and closed approach.

Describing teachers as champions, Ms Morgan told delegates that she sympathised with those in the profession who are, on a regular basis, “working late into the night marking books, planning lessons, preparing for inspections”.

“If our school story has a hero, it is them ... Sometimes perhaps we take it for granted,” she said. “We forget that teachers are not just teachers: they’re also friends and relatives. Mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters.

“I marvel at their dedication but I also think, there must be a better way.

“I don’t want my child to be taught by someone too tired, too stressed and too anxious to do the job well.”

Ms Morgan, who took on the role of education secretary in July, said that her second priority was to ensure that teachers are spending more time in the classroom doing what they should be doing and what they love doing – teaching.

While there is much to be done to achieve this and no one solution currently presents itself, Ms Morgan stated that she would work closely with teachers on a face-to-face basis and come up with genuine answers to transform the profession.

Commenting on Ms Morgan’s speech, Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), welcomed the pledge to prioritise the reduction of teacher workloads.

“How that will be done and when are the questions we will be seeking answers to in talks with government,” she continued.

“Today’s NUT survey shows that teachers are at breaking point with 90 per cent saying they had considered giving up teaching during the past two years because of workload.”