Missing Mothers reports

[furusato]

Not read it yet but heard an item on radio 4 this morning about this report.

www.newbritain.org.uk/missing-mothers

"Women in their 30s are, numerically, the biggest single group leaving teaching, according to new analysis seen exclusively by the BBC.
More than 9,000 of them left teaching in England 2022-23, compared with just over 3,400 men of a similar age.
In a report called Missing Mothers, researchers urge more family-friendly policies to halt the exodus."

I don't know if the specific sentence quoted above is from the report or a news report on the report, but it is somewhat misleading as women outnumber men 3:1 in the profession so you would expect to see more women leaving numerically.

According to that report women represent 75% of teachers in their thirties but actually a slightly lower proportion (72%) of leavers.

I don't disagree with the sentiment, or with targeting the biggest group of leavers numerically within teaching but I would expect a think tank to word its headline stats more rigorously.

It's also missing a significant comparison to other age groups. Even just numerically, how many women in their 20s and in their 40s leave? Is it really mothers (compared to single people) and what is the reason?

I know the article mentions poor work-life balance with regard to school drop-offs/ play attendance and poor materinity pay, but could it simply be that women are dropping out at that time because they see they can do better elsewhere due to their age?

It all seems a little superficial.

See I fall into this group. Late 30's, a Mum and considering leaving the classroom.

I am struggling with the guilt of not doing enough no matter what I try to do. It's affecting my relationship with my children and my husband, the amount of time I'm spending working.

I find the new PPA work from home rule a bit laughable as well. I'm Lucky enough that last year and this next coming year my head would let me leave early on PPA day to pick up my boys. Just 1 day a week. However as our PPA is done with our year teams this has a knock on effect of conversations happening without me there. I'm still missing out. If I ever had to stay at home on PPA day due to child's illness, I would zoom call in otherwise I would miss out on so much. I've also just read this wouldn't work for secondary teachers who get their PPA in lesson blocks scattered throughout the week.

In my school, young teachers with no family commitments go very high very fast. Once they get those family commitments, they cut down on their work hours or responsibilities.

I also think at this age group, I question how much longer I will have the energy to keep going. I always thought I would be a teacher for life. But having seen so many retire early and others move on to other roles, I'm not sure it is anymore. Perhaps I need to jump before I'm burnt out.