TEACHERS were today discussing the increasing stresses and strains they face in their profession during an Easter conference.

The annual gathering of the National Union of Teachers comes just weeks after an inquest heard how East Lancashire teacher Dennis Winkley killed himself after becoming depressed over problems at work and his struggle to cope with new technology.

An inquest earlier this month heard that Mr Winkley, 51, of James Street, Huncoat, had been a design and technology teacher at Rhyddings High School in Oswaldtwistle for 25 years and his specialist area had been woodwork.

Information technology (IT) was coming into that sphere of work and that had concerned him.

Lancashire NUT secretary Ken Cridland, who is among 18 delegates from the county at the conference in Harrogate this weekend, said: "We are nearer falling out seriously with this government than we have ever been.

"We have just held a national survey of our members on government plans for payment by results. The results of that will be available this weekend. It would not surprise me if ballots for strike action soon follow."

Mr Cridland added: "The whole atmosphere in schools is changing for the worse just as it did over 100 years ago when payment by results was used then.

"Pressure and stress and workplace bullying are building up to such high level that many teachers' health and home lives are suffering unacceptably."

The issue of privatisation of education is also being debated.