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As the new school term approaches, the Liberal Democrats have highlighted the urgent need to improve working hours and increase support for teachers, aiming to prevent widespread departures from the profession. Their recent survey conducted in England revealed that nearly half of the educators questioned are considering leaving teaching within the next five years, citing stress and excessive workloads as major factors influencing their decision.
The survey, which included over 900 teachers, headteachers, and Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs), found that many respondents felt overwhelmed by extensive duties such as marking and lesson planning, which ultimately reduced their actual classroom time. More than three-quarters reported feeling “frequently or constantly burnt out,” a clear indication of the pressures teachers face daily. Additionally, about 10% of those surveyed intended to remain in teaching for less than a year.
In response to these findings, the Liberal Democrats are appealing to the new Education Secretary Lucy Powell to take decisive action. Their demands include fully funding the planned teacher pay rises instead of schools having to divert funds from other budgets to cover these costs. They also advocate for enforcing limits on overtime and implementing flexible working policies across all schools. Caroline Voaden, the party’s spokesperson on schools, criticized the government for ignoring the concerns of educators, emphasizing the importance of creating conditions that encourage teachers to return after the summer break.
The National Education Union (NEU) echoed concerns about the ongoing teacher retention crisis, attributing it to “huge workloads and excessive accountability.” Daniel Kebede, NEU’s general secretary, described the education system as being “on its knees” after years of austerity and underfunding. He urged for full financial support for schools and teachers as a necessary step to address recruitment and retention challenges, ensuring students receive the education they deserve. The Department for Education acknowledged progress, noting that last year had the lowest rate of teachers leaving the profession since 2010, but admitted that further efforts are needed to support those dedicated to teaching
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