High teacher turnover

[VisiblyNot25]

Our primary school got new headteacher approx 3yrs years ago. In the years since, there’s been a massive turnover of staff - 8 teachers have now left. (3 form entry school) This feels concerning to me but I don’t know the best way to raise/ address it… Any thoughts? Especially from teachers.

Yes - I wonder if it’s actually just that turnover was unusually low while my daughter was there - which as others pointed out isn’t necessarily a purely good thing - and that’s meant my sense of what’s high is a bit off.

Thanks for your perspective!

My eldest didn’t enjoy her final year - although that may just be a Year 6 thing. The younger two do both seem happy - although my middle ones favourite class teacher is one who is now leaving.

There have been changes to pick up/ drop off which mean you no longer see your kids teachers every day, & maybe less communication with parents more generally but beyond that there don’t seem to notable changes.

Maybe it’s just fear of change/ difference from a parents point of view too & I need to work on accepting different isn’t necessarily worse!

Also, reflecting on this thread - maybe that they’re moving on to schools, potentially to leadership roles rather than leaving the profession actually reflects well - that they’re not completely burnt out etc.

As others have said, first that isn't that big a turn over in 3 years for a school of that size, considering there's a new head. Generally 1 or 2 teachers will move on each year anyway, for a variety of reasons, so it's only slightly higher than average I'd say for a 3 year period.

Whilst I understand this can seem alarming to parents, it isn't always simply a case of the new Headteacher making it an unbearable place to work so now everyone wants to leave (although sadly this could be a possibility). Most likely reason is that those staff who were there for years weren't happy with the changes (that doesn't necessarily mean the changes are bad though, they could have been essential and those staff too comfortable in the old system). Once one person leaves, this can cause their close colleagues to consider it too as the place doesn't quite feel the same anymore (especially if they were also close to the old headteacher too).

It could be that they're experienced (and therefore expensive) teachers who have sadly been edged out as budget cuts are so bad the school simply can't afford all their wages anymore. This isn't always the fault of the new head, often their hands are tied. An old head who is close to those teachers and therefore has loyalty towards them will ensure it doesn't happen, but when there's suddenly a new head with no prior relationship with those teachers it's very easy to suddenly give them the most difficult classes, extra responsibilities and create an atmosphere where those staff start to consider if a change would be good for them. Then they can be replaced by cheaper ECTs (newly qualified).

It's so common when there's a new head. Once they have bought in their own people and stamped their mark on the place things generally settle down but a 2-3 year period of change is pretty standard with new management.

Unless you personally have concerns about how the new Headteacher runs the school and conducts themselves, I wouldn't read too much into many of the 'old guard' leaving. Whilst it's likely to be because of the changes, it's not necessarily because of the Headteacher themselves being bad if that makes sense.

This is a really useful, informative & reassuring post. Thanks so much!

This is the recruitment and retention crisis everyone in the education system has seen coming for nearly ten years. You can raise your concerns with the school but there is nothing the school will be able to do about it.

It isn’t a singular school issue. It’s systemic of the whole education system.

My daughter’s English teacher left at the end of Year 10. It cost her a grade.

But three form entry in an all through primary is at least 21 teachers. Losing eight over three years doesn’t seem too concerning. Two or three a year really. They might have moved for promotion, for a shorter commute, or any number of reasons.

It’s correct that recruitment and retention is a massive and increasing problem though and it might not be too long before classes are doubled up and other measures taken.

We lost 12 staff one year in a two form ish entry school after a new head started. No questions were asked. One member left and took a big pay cut to work at a different local school. A number took early retirement but this was all covered over. They were mainly replaced with cheaper teachers just qualified.

Ask questions but be prepared to not be told the whole story as to be honest why would they? The school will carry on and the education of children will carry on hopefully to that good level. Sadly there are lots of unhappy schools out there but this is often successfully hidden from children and their families.

Could be that the school has got a reputation for behaviour specialists and nurseries recommend it.

No point in raising it. As previous posters have said, there may be a variety of reasons for the recent big turnover, not all iof which would necessarily reflect badly on the school. But... it may be that the staff are voting with their feet because they do not like the new Head. We have a new Head at my (secondary) school this year, who is pretty much universally disliked. I'm sure some teachers will jump ship, but it's such a lovely school that most will ride it out and hope he doesn't stay long.