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Nearly half of teachers plan to quit by 2027 due to workload, survey finds

Ahead of the National Education Union's (NEU) annual conference in Bournemouth this week, NEU data revealed that 44% of teachers plan to leave the profession by 2027.

By Charlotte Bateman, news reporter

Monday 11 April 2022 12:09, UK

Two-thirds of secondary school teachers聽said the issue of teaching assistant and support staff posts had also got worse since March 2020
Image: Increased workload was cited by many teachers as a reason for wanting to leave the profession
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Nearly half of teachers plan to quit the profession within the next five years, a survey has found.

In a poll of 1,788 teachers by the National Education Union (NEU), 44% said they would leave by 2027, while a fifth said they would leave as soon as within the next two years.

This decision was largely down to heavy work load, with 52% responding it was "unmanageable" or "unmanageable most of the time" - up from 35% in 2021.

File photo dated 12/09/18 of students in a lesson at school. Primary school teachers are having to buy books to stock their classrooms because of limited access to budgets, a new report reveals.
Image: A Department for Education spokesperson says teaching remains an 'attractive and fulfilling profession'

Teachers 'desperate' to leave

The level of trust in teachers from the public and government was another key motivation for those considering to leave.

Teachers also cited pay and accountability as reasons.

"I am desperate to get out of education due to workload, constant monitoring and paperwork," one teacher said.

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The survey found schools were struggling to fill vacancies, leading to a doubling up of roles, with 73% reporting the issue had got worse since the start of the pandemic.

"People leave and then their responsibilities are added to another role," one teacher said.

Another described how "everything is pared to the bone".

'Far too few' teaching assistants

Students and teachers from the Archer Academy in East Finchley participate in an educational session led by the National Citizen Service (NCS), which has been designed to encourage and support youth social activism outside the classroom, London.
Image: Dr Mary Bousted says teaching is often made 'unattractive and unsustainable'

Two-thirds of secondary school teachers - 66% - said the issue of teaching assistant and support staff posts had also got worse since March 2020.

One responded that there were "far too few" teaching assistants and they were being asked to cover classes more than ever before.

Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU, said: "This is simply unsustainable and can only lead to burn out."

She added that the government should not simply accept workload was a problem, but that it had "played a starring role in many of the contributing factors".

Read more: Schools asked to make sure week is at least 32.5 hours long

A Department for Education spokesperson said: "Teaching remains an attractive and fulfilling profession. The number of teachers in our schools remains high, with more than 461,000 teachers working in schools across the country - 20,000 more than in 2010.

"We have taken and will continue to take action to improve teacher and leader workload and well-being, working proactively with the sector to understand the drivers behind such issues and improve our policies and interventions."

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