Teachers in Northern Ireland will take industrial action short of a strike as part of a dispute over what they describe as "unsuitable workloads".

The NI Teachers' Council (NITC), which represents the five teaching unions in Northern Ireland, said the action will be begin on Monday, 28 September.

It added it was not able to secure a resolution to reduce workload for teachers and school leaders.

Education Minister Paul Givan said he was disappointed and has urged the teaching unions to continue in negotiations and reconsider their decision.

Givan said that while "further work is required on a small number of issues", he believed there was "scope" to reach agreement.

"I recognise the pressures facing teachers and the wider education workforce," he said.

"My priority remains securing the best possible outcomes for children and young people. I hope all parties will continue to engage constructively to build on the progress already made, with the aim of reaching agreement and minimising any potential impact on schools and pupils."

Northern Ireland's largest teaching union, the NASUWT, expressed profound disappointment that talks had failed.

General Secretary Matt Wrack said: "The purpose of these negotiations was to reduce excessive workload and begin restoring some balance to the working lives of teachers and school leaders.

"Yet management side could not even agree to a short period of restraint across the system that would have created the conditions needed for schools to plan properly for the implementation of changes that everyone accepts are necessary."

The Irish National Teachers' Organisation's (INTO) northern secretary Mark McTaggart said: "A credible implementation plan for the 27 recommendations has not, to date, been forthcoming which would have given our members significant improvements in their work/life balance, as envisaged by the Independent Teacher Workload Review panel."

Ulster Teachers' Union (UTU) general secretary Jacquie White said she believed the issues could be resolved through agreement.

"Any agreement must deliver practical and lasting improvements for teachers, school leaders, and ultimately the young people they serve."

Dr Graham Gault, national secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), who represent the majority of school leaders in Northern Ireland, said members reached the point where "they can no longer continue working in conditions that are unsafe, unsustainable and professionally indefensible".

"Unfortunately, despite every opportunity being afforded to them, employers and the department have been unable to produce a package capable of addressing the crisis facing school leadership."

The Teachers' Negotiating Committee (TNC) said it was disappointed by the unions' decision.

It said agreement in principle had been reached on eight of 11 outstanding issues, but more time was needed to "refine the detail" and "to develop a robust and effective implementation plan".

"It is against this backdrop that Management Side finds the unions' decision disappointing and difficult to understand. We had asked for a further four weeks to conclude work that was demonstrably close to resolution. That request has been declined by NITC."

The TNC also said it was "ready to conclude this process at any time" and urged the unions to reconsider.

"The consequence of this decision will be felt directly by children and young people. A 'return to action short of strike' disrupts teaching and learning, extra-curricular activity, and the wider school experience that pupils are entitled to — at the very point where a negotiated, lasting settlement was within reach."