INCREASING workloads are causing many experienced teachers to leave the profession.

And many feel that the latest Government initiative to tackle the problem by getting classroom assistants to take lessons is only a token gesture.

Ian Hill, secretary of the Swindon branch of the National Union of Teachers, said new teachers are also becoming disillusioned.

He said: "The main pressures are pupil behaviour, form filling and government initiatives that keep changing from one year to the next.

"I am not surprised this head teacher has resigned, around 60 per cent of teachers who started their training have left the profession.

"Teaching assistant's taking more lessons aren't going to solve the problem. I think it is an attempt by the Government to pull the wool over the public's eyes to make it look like more is being done."