Teachers will step up industrial action by boycotting work associated with the Curriculum for Excellence, it has been announced.

Union NASUWT said it will be escalating its current action from Thursday, May 12.

It comes after claims reforms have "simply piled on the pressure" to teachers across the country.

The Scottish Government says the move is "disappointing" and "in no one's interests."

NASUWT members are being instructed to refuse to comply with planning, assessment and reporting work linked to the Curriculum for Excellence which does not meet the recommendations made by a specialist group set up to make the reforms less bureaucratic.

That could lead to them refusing to submit daily or weekly plans, as well as not producing detailed folios of pupils' work to support assessments.

NASUWT general-secretary Chris Keates said the instruction "to escalate our existing industrial action will empower teachers to challenge and remove the unnecessary bureaucratic burdens being placed upon them by the Curriculum for Excellence".

She added it would also help teachers "take control of their professional lives and to focus on their core role of teaching".

Ms Keates said: "Teachers need more than fine words from the Government and employers about tackling workload, they need action.

"Pupils are entitled to be taught by those whose working conditions enable them to focus on teaching and learning."

She added: "Excessive workload is blighting teachers' professional lives and affecting their health and well-being, yet the Government and employers are failing to act.

"The reforms to the curriculum and qualifications systems have simply piled on the pressure.

"Recommendations made by a Government Working Group set up to examine these issues are being ignored by employers and schools.

"With 87% of teachers citing workload as their biggest concern and two thirds considering leaving the profession all together, this situation cannot be allowed to continue. Teachers are tired, exhausted and disillusioned."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The decision to recommend industrial action is disappointing and is in no one's interests, least of all pupils and their families.

"We will continue to work with unions and teachers on issues relating to planning and assessment."