Schools - and the people in teaching jobs employed by them - are facing up to five continuous years of exam reform.

The is the stark reality laid down by the qualifications regulator Ofqual, which thinks this gradual but prolonged approach is better than too much simultaneous change.

Ofqual has been tasked by the government with introducing tougher exams which can help improve the English school system on an international stage, and to this end new GCSEs and A-levels will be sat from 2017.

These are in addition to the existing reformed school exams that have already been announced over the past two years. It means that teachers will begin preparing pupils for new exams in the next academic year, but the last of the actual revised tests will be taken for the first time in 2019.

Glenys Stacey, Ofqual's chief regulator, said: "We have had discussions with the secretary of state and the exam boards, holding the ring really, on what is a manageable next phase of reform."

Despite the negotiations, teaching unions believe the upheaval will still be a strain on an already demoralised workforce and one that will be simultaneously learning to navigate a new GCSE grading system. 

Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers union, said: "We are concerned that introducing such a huge raft of reforms to GCSEs and A-levels so quickly, and in a piecemeal fashion, will put massive pressure on teachers, the awarding bodies and Ofqual and risk jeopardising the reputation of GCSEs and A-levels."

Furthermore, Ms Bousted believes teachers will not be the only people put out by such sweeping reforms and pupils taking the first set of exams may be disadvantaged.

As somebody looking for a secondary teaching job, how do you feel about the prospect of five years of exam changes? 

Let us know your views.