Nearly half of teachers plan to quit in the next 5 years

[freebritknee]

I saw this from a survey carried out by an education union.

Unmanageable workload is a significant factor.

This is madness how have the unions allowed the state of teachers employment to get this far where nearly half of them want out?!

I don’t think anyone goes into teaching thinking it’ll be easy, no. Teaching is my second career, and it is definitely more manageable than my first - no adults to manage, no budget juggling (at my level), and the holidays are child friendly. I’m also at the stage in teaching where I’m very clear about what I will and won’t do, and I do think teachers need to be better at voting with their feet.

But - 50% of the profession leaving will mean school closures, it’ll mean attainment gets worse and it’ll mean the education of an entire population will suffer. I welcome all of that, because the English system needs change, and I think only that will force that change. But that doesn’t mean I don’t feel sad it had to get to that point.

I hope the ridiculous academic year of three terms which include six weeks off in the summer will be changed to semesters. This should make life more manageable for teachers. How do you mean?

I should have said - the difference in teaching and my old job is teaching changes all the time. Every few months there’s a new scheme we have to include or a new assessment profile we have to follow. I’ve been teaching for a few years now and the job is completely different to the one I had with I was newly qualified. Not to mention inclusive practice - which just means that kids who would have had EHP paid for somewhere are now struggling in a mainstream classroom because of budget cuts.

Well then teachers need support to be happier in their jobs. Its simply not fair to allow teachers working situations to continue as they are.

There are some absolutely fabulous teachers who have touched my families life, through going above and beyond for my daughter and supporting her as a person as well as her education. Many of which give their time at weekends and evenings replying to emails and planning for their students. If teachers like this leave their careers, it will negatively impact the futures of many, many children.

But you just seem to think people should leave! That doesn't produce more teachers.

Exactly. When MNers respond indignantly to these 'whingy' teachers who dare complain about their 'cushy' jobs by telling them to quit because they're clearly useless and past-it, they seem to be ignoring the fact that a) a lot of the teachers leaving or wanting to leave are young, relatively new teachers, and b) that there are not enough new recruits to replace the teachers who have already left, never mind all the ones MNers think should leave!

I was a teacher for 6 years until last year.

The top 2 things that need to be done are:

1. remove the link between education and government. The government shouldn't be dictating what should be taught in schools. The education secretary mostly puts in place things to look like they're doing something, but In actual fact, the national curriculum needs stability. Education professionals should be in charge of the curriculum.

2. more money for schools. A teacher has not got enough hours in the day to do their job well and have a life of their own. If teachers could teach two lessons per day, and then have time to plan / mark / admin then burnout levels would lower and quality would improve. I think this model is used in Shanghai.

@Kindfulness

I was a teacher for 6 years until last year.

The top 2 things that need to be done are:

1. remove the link between education and government. The government shouldn't be dictating what should be taught in schools. The education secretary mostly puts in place things to look like they're doing something, but In actual fact, the national curriculum needs stability. Education professionals should be in charge of the curriculum.

2. more money for schools. A teacher has not got enough hours in the day to do their job well and have a life of their own. If teachers could teach two lessons per day, and then have time to plan / mark / admin then burnout levels would lower and quality would improve. I think this model is used in Shanghai.

Yes our local authority is trying desperately to follow the Shanghai model while ignoring the massive cultural differences mainly the differences in teaching patterns, the lack of Sen children in mainstream education there, the differences in expectations of teachers (ie they just teach, no counselling, running clubs etc), parental expectations etc.

In primary it seems they switch year groups for teachers often which I don't get. Every teacher has a preferred age group but moving them from a year 6 to then year 3 then year 5 is hard work. My year 1 child has a fantastic teacher, but several years ago she was in year 5 then pulled down to year 1 and my first child hated her. But it's such a difference in how you teach they should get so much more support.

NASUWT survey. Slightly different question and bleaker picture:

www.theguardian.com/education/2022/apr/15/seven-in-10-teachers-in-england-thought-of-leaving-in-past-year-poll-shows

At the bottom end of the scale it's not a great salary. I understand the need to raise that.

But it then becomes stagnant as experience doesn't count and there's little to keep teachers in the classroom, and little to tempt them to take on extra responsibility.

I have frequently toyed with TLR roles but the money is never commensurate with the hours required.

I've read the majority of this thread but feel the need to comment. I left teaching two weeks ago as it was affecting my MH, my family and our lives. I had been teaching for 14 years as a secondary school English and Media teacher.

It was not the job I started. I'm sad about it, but I'm also looking forward to being able to actually spend time with my kid (I worked probably 50% if not more of "holidays" and every Sunday without fail) and not having panic attacks about being observed by a cutthroat SLT who are trying to phase out expensive staff.

It's not the job I started. The kids are more disruptive and disrespectful. The parents are worse. I don't enjoy the curriculum any more. It's wholly focused in exams, even in year 7.

I am fortunate that I am married to someone who is not a teacher so we still have a decent wage coming in, whilst I get my head sorted. Plus I scrimped to save wages to cover us. I am aware that other industries have pressure (DH also works long days but never weekends and holidays) and the wage is significantly lower at entry level. But a life without the constant worry... Worth it.

If all the teachers who say they will quit, actually did, something might get done. But they won't, so it won't.

@Florenz

If all the teachers who say they will quit, actually did, something might get done. But they won't, so it won't.

People can’t leave jobs without another job to go to. I’d quit tomorrow if there was another job I could do.

@Florenz

If all the teachers who say they will quit, actually did, something might get done. But they won't, so it won't.

I have a lot of friends who are desperately trying to get out of teaching but for various reasons feel trapped, whether that be due to money, childcare, qualifications. And the guilt. I still feel super guilty about letting the kids down.

How are you letting the kids down though, UrbanMage? If you always did your best while you were paid to teach them (I'm sure you did), no-one should expect more.

I'm leaving this summer after 10 years, for a variety of reasons (not pay though -- as this thread has abundantly shown, pay is rarely the main issue) and as a sixth form subject specialist, I'd always have left in the middle of someone's course. It's just one of those things.

NASUWT Union survey yesterday. Asked all the same sorts of things about thoughts about leaving teaching. Then it asked what I had done about it. It was lovely to write that I am leaving for another job.

@Phineyj

How are you letting the kids down though, UrbanMage? If you always did your best while you were paid to teach them (I'm sure you did), no-one should expect more.

I'm leaving this summer after 10 years, for a variety of reasons (not pay though -- as this thread has abundantly shown, pay is rarely the main issue) and as a sixth form subject specialist, I'd always have left in the middle of someone's course. It's just one of those things.

By leaving at Easter. I've not been replaced so they will only have cover teachers. My HOF made me write cover lessons to see them through till year 11 leave and write the SOL for year 10 media studies coursework as I was the only Media teacher (despite me requesting more staff to teach they 4 GCSE classes). So the kids are worried about not getting the information they need for their exams.

Plus I have marked the cwk but it needs uploading by my HOF was/is useless so I've been asked to come in and do it. Unpaid.

Plus I have marked the cwk but it needs uploading by my HOF was/is useless so I've been asked to come in and do it. Unpaid
I hope you've said no

None of that is your fault! The SLT have under resourced your role and driven you out. Please don't feel guilty.

You've reminded me of my DSis who resigned from a magazine editing role. They tried to get her to write the next two issues in advance...

@Hippoevens - I’d hate the semester thing. People have been banging on about it for years . Not sure why you think it would make teachers’ lives easier.

@Mari001

Hello

I’m a teacher and aspiring writer. I have started a blog called Teacher’s Brew, including tips, tricks and more for a happier work-life balance. I’m in the early stages, so your support would be appreciated. I am most grateful for your comments.

Thank you

teachersbrew.wordpress.com/home/

Visit and share

Or you know, you could join in on the threads here rather than spamming your blog on every teaching post...

Lost me when the word brew was used twice in the opening sentence