IT IS a sign of how keen headteachers are to ease the burden on their overworked staff when they take on more red tape to tackle the problem.

Abbey Hill Technology College, a secondary special school in Hardwick, Stockton, is one of 32 schools selected by the Government to work out ways to reduce teacher workload.

But simply being part of the initiative means they are facing more bureaucracy, an irony which is not lost on headteacher Mike Vening.

"There is a difficulty in that the workload might increase," he says. "But I genuinely feel that it's far better to put it to the practitioners. It's exciting for us and we're delighted to be part of the scheme."

The initiative is one of several the Government is pursuing to try to stop teachers leaving the profession. But the fact that ministers have finally recognised there is a problem with teacher workload and have asked the people directly affected to come up with solutions is a positive move, says Mr Vening.

As part of the £4m project, teachers in the 32 schools will be given laptop computers with Internet access, which is expected to help cut down the hours spent planning. "Our teachers will be able to link into their files at school when they're at home so their preparation can be done much more efficiently," says Mr Vening.

Abbey Hill is also looking at inviting outside specialists in their field to teach skills such as technology, sports and crafts one afternoon a week. It would give the teachers some free time to meet up and pool information.

The school is setting up a committee to look at fresh ideas to cut teacher workload and they will focus on the best ones. In a year's time the Government will assess how these ideas have fared and whether they will be picked up and shared with other schools.

"It's really the number of hours required for bureaucracy that disrupts learning and what we want to be about is teaching kids," says Mr Vening.

But the modern day classroom would be a different place if staff were allowed to "simply teach". Abbey Hill School's English teacher Jo Smith, 28, describes her average working day.

MY WORKING DAY...

7.40am: That's the washer on, the dinner prepared, and the ironing done, (must buy milk). Check watch, 7.40... time to leave for school.

7.55am: School gates. Tracey smoking so hand signal reprimand through car window. But now it's my turn as the caretaker reminds me of the five mph limit in school grounds. Struggle into school with giant plastic box filled full of books. (Must check with Health and Safety on lifting policy). Arrive at classroom. Open blinds, clean board, unpack marking, and switch on computer. Check today's planner. Oh no, I've got 8Y first lesson! Realise I haven't had chance to do my photocopying for 11B's literature lesson.

8am Fight with photocopier - paper jam, no toner, queue forming behind me.

8.10am: Back in classroom writing up starter sessions on flip chart: magic 'e' spelling rule, phonemes and prefixes today.

8.30am Staff room. Grab cup of tea and empty full pigeon-hole of five pieces of junk mail selling teaching resources, a forthcoming course, and three telephone messages from parents - can I get back to them ASAP? Maths teacher comes to moan about yesterday's unruly behaviour of one of my tutor group. Would I sort it out?

8.40am The daily ritual of staff briefing commences. Discussion on the day ahead, dates for diary, issues and cover for the day. Two staff off with flu, one on a course - there goes my 40 minutes' planning time. Oh no, it's 8Y for cover... and I'm to try to teach them science!

8.55am Assembly hall. Collect dinner money, home-school books, homework and cheques for forthcoming residential amid children's chatter. This is the best part of the day as they are all pleased to see me. "Cap off, please, Julian".

9.05am Finally make it to classroom - teaching starts here. The two lessons before break are year eight English and year ten English. Lessons follow the National Literacy Strategy and each one consists of a starter activity, main activities and a plenary session. First period runs smoothly; as usual no one has a pen, Billy's lost his book, the Internet is down, Ruth complains she needs the toilet and feels sick, and my white board marker decides to run out.

10.30am Break time - grab coat and out to playground as it's my turn for duty. Send pupil to tuck-shop to get me some crisps. I really must find time for breakfast!

10.45am Back to classroom for rest of morning lessons - drama with year 11 option group for a double session. Role playing, hot seating, ("What happens in lesson five, Miss?" I consider recording a tape loop and it's not even lunchtime!) tableaux making, mime and improvisation. Preparation for the summer show - after school practices start from half term. Tom's wheelchair is squeaking, must ask the physiotherapist to look at it.

12.05pm: Lunch hour - or rather lunch 50 minutes. This is my opportunity to speak to the pupil from yesterday's maths class. Then Simon's lost his packed lunch so off we go to search for it. Peter's lost his letter for the school trip - may he have another one? Oh no - another fight with the photocopier! At least 50 of the most important questions about the trip follow, starting with "Can I bring my torch?" and "How much pocket money am I allowed?" Time to return phone calls to the three parents. Try to eat sandwich at same time. Catch three girls hiding in corridor and escort them back outside. John from 11E wants me to explain the coursework essay title again. See head of department for unofficial meeting about textbook order.

12.55pm Bell calls us back to classroom for three afternoon performances. My tutor group arrive first for registration and then go off to their lesson. Year seven enter for their English lesson followed by year nine and finally the GCSE English group. Stress levels rise when I request baseball caps to be removed, jewellery handed over, and exam course work handed in that should have been completed last week. "Give 'us my cap back, Miss". "Why do we have to wait here? The bell should have gone by now." AAARGHHHHH!

3.05pm: My tutor group return at this time each day for coats, bags, PE kit, packed lunch boxes, homework, cakes made in Home and Family studies, masks made in art and wooden carts made in woodwork.

I quickly pen notes to parents in home school books and hand out letters. This is also our calm session to reflect on the day's experiences. Remember that Martin is going home with gran today - must tell the bus driver. All file out and now have to get everyone on right bus or in right taxi.

3.15pm Students leave school grounds - except for Harry. His lift hasn't arrived and he is most upset. Dry tears, phone mum, and wait in reception with him. Record today's merits while waiting.

3.25pm Back to classroom for a quick tidy up before meeting in staff room. This is training for professional development: another new Government initiative to put into place and all the relevant bumph to be read, digested and filed. (Must remind the year ten environmental group that the paper recycling bins need to be emptied.)

5pm Return to classroom to collect planning folder, homework to be marked and course work to be moderated for examiner.

Mental note to remember to tell IT technician that the printer has run out of ink.

5.15pm Safely home. Feed the cat; short break for cup of tea, and "Neighbours".

6pm: Red pens at the ready and it's down to work. Mark homework; update "medium term" planning, and quick re-check of tomorrow's lesson plans.

7pm Knock off for dinner - here's one I prepared earlier!

7.45pm Start writing reports on each individual pupil for annual reviews.

9.30pm Time to call it a day. Take off the educationalist, carer, social worker, nurse, accountant, referee and secretary hats. Tired? Yes. Hassled? Yes. Career move? Never