Bridget Phillipson responds to news that a record 40,000 teachers left the profession last year

Bridget Phillipson MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, responding to news that a record 40,000 teachers left the profession last year, said:

“This is yet more evidence that this incompetent Conservative government has created the perfect storm in recruitment and retention of teachers.

“The endless merry-go-round of Conservative Prime Ministers and Education Ministers have neglected our schools and our teaching workforce – and it is children who will pay the price.

“Labour will restore the status of teaching and recruit thousands more expert teachers to drive high and rising standards in our classrooms, paid for by ending tax breaks for private schools.”

Ends

Notes:

• There were 43,997 leavers from the teaching profession in 2022:
  School workforce in England, Reporting year 2022 – Explore education statistics – GOV.UK (explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk)

• This is the highest since data for the recent records from the 2010-11 census began:
  Record 40k teachers quit sector last year (schoolsweek.co.uk)