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?!

@JangolinaPitt

I have worked in both sectors and am now a teacher. Massively less stress than in the corporate world and long holidays. Most teachers haven’t worked outside education and have no idea of the reality of a job where you do absolutely work long hours but don’t have the holidays. There is also a tendency to assume that they could command a higher salary elsewhere but not a massive demand for embittered ex-teachers who want an easy life. I would not recommend that anyone goes into teaching straight from university, but as as second or third carer is a very palatable alternative to the stresses of the corporate world.

That isn’t my experience at all-we’ve had numerous new entrants to schools I’ve worked in who came from the corporate world, none have lasted longer than 3 years.

I worked in the city for many years in corporate banking. V long hours and stressful. But teaching knocks it out of the park. Holidays ? I'm working all this week - again revision sessions and marking mocks.
I never criticise anyone else's job but people just love to criticise teachers.
I came into this older and a lot less likely to stand for the crap, and I fight back for my staff where I can. But there is now so much crap it's like a tidal wave of brown squidgy poop everyday.

I agree, the career changer teachers I have seen haven't lasted long, or been anywhere near as good as the young graduates we have... Often think they know better than people who have taught a long time, but can't get the kids to listen to them!

I'm always surprised to see these threads alongside the private v state threads, where loads of parents jump on to say that sending your children private is a waste of money. Forget the swimming pools and the fancy buildings - this, this thread, is the reason why (some) private schools are worth the money. DH is a department head in a private school. As someone said upthread, the teachers in his school are allowed to actually teach, without micromanagement and stupid targets and mountains of pointless paperwork. They have manageable class sizes and timetables. They are respected by the senior leadership, every one of whom comes from a teaching background. They get a nice lunch and time to actually eat it while chatting to colleagues, rather than supervising hordes of kids. When DH advertises for a new teacher, he gets plenty of high quality applicants. He can plan his lessons around what he wants to teach and how he wants to teach it, rather than how much he's got left in his printing budget. He's taught in state too, so he's seen the other side of the fence. Don't get me wrong, he still works bloody hard - it's by no means an easy job - but at least he feels like he's trusted to do his job and is properly supported to do it. Trouble is, running all schools like that would cost a fucktonne of money plus a long term strategic change from a government that actually understands education.

@Countdown2023

You are taking a parent to court ?

No they are taking me to court. However as this is malicious and lies which I can prove and given they have put defamatory things on facebook on the local page then following the verdict, I will be taking legal action against them.

I’ve been teaching for thirty years.

Back in the day everyone said they’d leave. Now they really are.
Young teachers tend to lack an all round education. Can’t often spell or see beyond their subject to make links that shows a good education.

I’ve taught in private too, and that is not my experience. Far too target driven and pupil welfare was always second to value for money.

I was going to start teacher training in September. Been working as a TA to keep my hand in till it started. That's been enough to put me off. I can't manage that workload and my mental health. My teacher colleagues can't always either truth be told.

I'm a TA. The job is massively different to how it was when I started. Long gone are the times of reading groups, art displays and gluing stuff into books!
Nowadays we're 1:1 across the board. We deal with challenging behaviours every day, with no training. What a surprise, however, our earnings haven't gone up to reflect this. It's still minimum wage, unpaid breaks, no WiFi!
The government/local Councils take advantage of the fact that it's largely women's work. Not only that, but mums' work. My salary wouldn't cover the rent alone in the city where I live. If it wasn't for having a high earning ex husband and maintenance payments, I'd be screwed.
Why is it that those who work with society's most vulnerable are those who are most totally screwed over ...
I'd love to see stroke action, but most aren't affiliated to a Union as our pay is too low (Scotland).

Strike, not stroke!

I'm a governor at a small secondary school.

We've lost 5/6 office/reception staff since last year. 2 support staff.

We are losing 4 teaching staff at the end of this term. 2 are leaving teaching entirely.

I'd be surprised if the HT stays on much longer than 2 years.

My DH works in a private school. They also have problems recruiting and retaining staff. Many of the kids and parents are hugely demanding. Class sizes really aren't all that small. Behaviour- he says (he has low tolerance) is crap and SLT very demanding. But I agree about the longer lunch and the less micro managing of classroom teaching and assessment.

@mycatisannoying

Strike, not stroke!

Sometime a bit of gentle stroking might help

JangolinaPitt

You have accused someone of being closed minded whilst ignoring the positives that young teachers bring to the classroom.

Most of those that came from to teaching from a previous career, in my experience, couldn't cut it and left back to the corporate world that they came from.

And I say this as someone that took up teaching as a second career.

@mumsneedwine

😂😂 average classroom teacher on £55,000. Sorry, that's hilarious. Most classroom teachers will be in MPS which tops at £37,000. Even UPS is £42,000 max. Where on earth did this magical figure come from ????

Because that is a pro-rata'd salary.

Pumperthepumper

I know this isn’t directed at me, but I’m leaning towards agreeing with it. Teaching should be seen as a further specialisation.

Soldiers to teachers didn't work
failed Bankers to teachers didn't work
Teach first is struggling, even the creator of it went part time as she couldn't do it full time.

Without changing a huge amount about the English education system (which it really needs) its not going to help.

Tippexy

Because that is a pro-rata'd salary

Except that it isn't,

Its a salary based on contracted hours.

I know. I mean teaching as a further specialisation from a core subject.

I'm still waiting for @JangolinaPitt to explain my many and varied failings as a teacher to me.

Mrs Hamlet, with respect, it’s attitudes like yours that stagnate teaching. There are many, many failings in the education system and a conversation needs to be had about what kind of skills we want our teachers to have. The current system is very obviously not working.

Pumperthepumper

What attitude does MrsHamlet have? All she has done is defend her career choice.

@Pumperthepumper

Mrs Hamlet, with respect, it’s attitudes like yours that stagnate teaching. There are many, many failings in the education system and a conversation needs to be had about what kind of skills we want our teachers to have. The current system is very obviously not working.

What attitude is that?

This attitude: many and varied failings as a teacher to me.

Sorry, pressed send too soon. Do you believe you have many and varied failings as a teacher?

@Pumperthepumper

Sorry, pressed send too soon. Do you believe you have many and varied failings as a teacher?

Like all humans, I have many and varied failings. I'm unclear which ones come from going straight into teaching though. Apparently, though, I'd be better for my students if I'd done something else first.