Education secretary Nicky Morgan has said her key priority is to reduce the burden on teachers so they can spend more time in the classroom.
The minister, who is also the MP for Loughborough, was speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham this afternoon.
She told party supporters that she did not want children to be taught by tired, anxious staff who were up late into the night planning lessons.
"My first priority is to reduce the burden on teachers," she said.
She added: "I'm not going to pretend this will be easy. I have no great initiative today, but I'll work with the profession to find solutions and with the unions through a process of engagement.
"I'll be listening to what they have to say to craft a new deal."
However, in a move which might infuriate some in the profession, she thanked her predecessor, Michael Gove, for reforming the education system into one of great achievement.
Mrs Morgan said that standards had risen, discipline had been restored and that more children were attending good or outstanding schools.
She said the old "can't do" culture had been replaced by a "can do" attitude.
Mrs Morgan also said that despite criticism over the pace of educational change, she had no intention of slowing down and that free schools and academies had helped to bring about change and offer more choice to parents.
