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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

848 replies

freebritknee · 11/04/2022 14:04

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?!

OP posts:
DotBall · 11/04/2022 19:16

If the unions are at fault, it's because they've managed to get the job so well paid it's hard to leave

Are you having a laugh? I have 33 years teaching experience, with management experience but chose to step back to ‘just’ being a classroom teacher on UPS3 (secondary school).

My 25 year old son with no degree and 2.5 years in the finance industry is on just £300 less than me a month. (I’m very pleased for him, but not for teaching staff).

Pumperthepumper · 11/04/2022 19:17

No, not you personally - you could be the best teacher in the world, who knows? But there is a lack of skill in ITE now, as well as a bizarre recruitment process. Raising the standard of what we expect from teachers is surely no bad thing? So long as the salary reflects it?

mrshoho · 11/04/2022 19:18

This is not surprising at all.

FrippEnos · 11/04/2022 19:22

Pumperthepumper

How does making teaching a second career improve teaching or ITE?

Without changing the core of how teachers are recruited, educated and retained it won't make a blind bit of difference.

lameasahorse · 11/04/2022 19:23

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

Pumperthepumper · 11/04/2022 19:24

Because it recruits people from specialised skill sets, who have experience in using those skills before setting foot in a classroom.

MrsHamlet · 11/04/2022 19:24

@Pumperthepumper

No, not you personally - you could be the best teacher in the world, who knows? But there is a lack of skill in ITE now, as well as a bizarre recruitment process. Raising the standard of what we expect from teachers is surely no bad thing? So long as the salary reflects it?
I didn't say that it was. I think the current "requirements" are quite frankly, piss poor. But training providers are not allowed to require prior experience of being in a classroom and many are recruiting anyone who rocks up with £9k to spend. The way ofsted grades them is bizarre, and school based mentors and trainers (of which I am one) are left to pick up the pieces. When I have been consulted by representatives from the DfE and the opposition in relation to this - which I have - I have made it very clear what I think. But the recruitment crisis needs an easy fix not a permanent or effective one, apparently.
Pumperthepumper · 11/04/2022 19:24

Which obviously would change the way teachers are recruited.

MrsHamlet · 11/04/2022 19:25

@Pumperthepumper

Because it recruits people from specialised skill sets, who have experience in using those skills before setting foot in a classroom.
Except that being an excellent scientist doesn't necessarily make you an excellent teacher of science.
Pumperthepumper · 11/04/2022 19:26

But what’s your solution in that case? If it isn’t changing who we accept into ITE?

Pumperthepumper · 11/04/2022 19:26

No, but having an excellent teaching postgrad doesn’t make you an excellent teacher either.

FrippEnos · 11/04/2022 19:27

@Pumperthepumper

Because it recruits people from specialised skill sets, who have experience in using those skills before setting foot in a classroom.
But that doesn't mean that they will be any good at teaching or that they would put up with the current poor treatment of teachers.
FrippEnos · 11/04/2022 19:29

@Pumperthepumper

No, but having an excellent teaching postgrad doesn’t make you an excellent teacher either.
But only you and JangolinaPitt are saying that one shouldn't be given a chance.
Pumperthepumper · 11/04/2022 19:29

Well, surely not putting up with the current poor treatment of teachers is a good thing?

And you could say the same for any teaching degree, it’s no reflection of what kind of teacher you’ll be.

MrsHamlet · 11/04/2022 19:30

More rigour in recruitment.
Requiring prior experience in school.
Requiring a reference from someone who can talk about that.
Requiring a teaching activity of some kind at interview.
Requiring some kind of reflection task at interview.
Not having to nod everything through because the training provider needs them all to pass.
The two year ECT programme isn't going to improve the situation at all.

Hercisback · 11/04/2022 19:30

It is the easiest option for a graduate - the thing that graduates typically do if they don’t have other options -but children deserve better.

Teaching isn't an easy option for a graduate, proven by the drop out rates.

In my experience both young teachers and career changers can be awful teachers. Nothing to do with what they did (or didn't do) before teaching, and more about their willingness to learn, develop and improve as a teacher. Most career changers I know left within a few years.

There is an issue in ITE because no one wants to be a teacher. The conditions are crap, it's not respected as a job, and the amount of crap piled on schools from the government is ridiculous. ITE is also suffering from a lack of experienced teachers to mentor ECTs and trainees.

Appuskidu · 11/04/2022 19:30

@Pumperthepumper

But what’s your solution in that case? If it isn’t changing who we accept into ITE?
By changing many of the practices within the education system that are driving good teachers out.
Pumperthepumper · 11/04/2022 19:31

I think leaving a specialised job to teach shows a different level of commitment than teacher training because you couldn’t think of anything else. And I’m sure there are many, many excellent teachers who that worked out for, but I think teaching being seen as a fallback option is not a good thing for the profession.

Pumperthepumper · 11/04/2022 19:32

What does ‘rigour’ mean in recruitment?

Pumperthepumper · 11/04/2022 19:33

By changing many of the practices within the education system that are driving good teachers out.

Specifically what though?

MrsHamlet · 11/04/2022 19:33

Also better funding for induction.
Yay - we're funding mentor time and ECT time for two years.
Boo - it won't cover the cost of remission from timetable for it to happen
Worse still - you only get it at the end of induction

Seema1234 · 11/04/2022 19:33

I don't blame them. What a shit show it's been for them over the last few years.

MrsHamlet · 11/04/2022 19:33

@Pumperthepumper

What does ‘rigour’ mean in recruitment?
I wrote a list.
FrippEnos · 11/04/2022 19:34

@Pumperthepumper

Well, surely not putting up with the current poor treatment of teachers is a good thing?

And you could say the same for any teaching degree, it’s no reflection of what kind of teacher you’ll be.

Yet teachers are not putting up with the current poor treatment and are being told that they couldn't hack it in the "real world" yet many do, and the situation in teaching is not improving.

And again it is only you and another poster that is saying that those going straight in to teaching from uni shouldn't be allowed to.

Hercisback · 11/04/2022 19:34

I think leaving a specialised job to teach shows a different level of commitment than teacher training because you couldn’t think of anything else

This is bollocks. I know people who left specialised jobs because they couldn't get childcare in the holidays and thought teaching would fit better with their life.

Commitment doesn't make you a better teacher.