Education secretary Nicky Morgan has responded to concerns raised in the EDP's Norfolk teacher survey about large numbers thinking of leaving the profession, suffering intimidation, and under pressure to cheat.

In our survey, 64pc of teachers said they was considering leaving the profession in the next three years.

Mrs Morgan said: 'Teachers work incredibly hard. I appreciate that, with accountability, there is no doubt that it is a pressure and we have already taken steps to look at workload.

'We have got the workload review groups due to report very shortly on things like data collection, lesson plans and marking.'

She added: 'Particularly in Norfolk, we will have a changed situation so the teachers know they are working in great schools, with great and very supportive leadership, which I think will make a huge difference.'

She reiterated that the government was 'tackling some of the issues people will have mentioned for leaving'.

The education secretary said she was worried by our finding that 45pc of teachers said they had been put under pressure to inflate the results or assessments, coursework or exams.

Mrs Morgan said: 'At the end of the day, we want people to be teaching not for tests or results but to be teaching the pupils in the key skills and knowledge they need to succeed.

'That is what the exams and tests are there for.

'I don't think it helps anybody to inflate results, because ultimately we will be able to look at the areas of the country where schools are coasting and education is not good enough and actually offer support.

'If by faking results you are not getting support then they are letting the pupils down.'

A total of 44pc of teachers said they had suffered intimidation from parents in the past year, and Mrs Morgan indicated it was an issue she was planning to address shortly.

She said: 'Intimidation from parents is unacceptable and teachers must be free to teach and get on with their jobs without any fear of intimidation or violence.

'I am going to have more to say on that in a couple of weeks, and the involvement of parents in education, which I think is very important.'