There were 3,750 teachers in England on long-term stress leave in
2016/17, up 5% on the previous year, Liberal Democrat research has
revealed.
It means one in 83 teachers is now on long-term leave of one month
or more for stress and mental health issues, up from one in 95
three years ago and one in 90 last year.
The Liberal Democrats said the figures "laid bare the impossible
pressures teachers are under" and warned that stress caused by an
obsession with exam results is fuelling the teacher recruitment
crisis.
In total 1.3 million days have been taken off by teachers for
stress and mental health reasons in the last four years, including
around 312,000 in 2016/17.
The 312,000 days taken off for stress and mental health
reasons in 2016/17 are equivalent to losing 1,600 teachers each
working 185 days a year.
The figures are based on responses to Freedom of Information
requests by the Liberal Democrats from 82 of 152 councils in
England. 53 councils said they did not hold the information and 17
did not reply.
MP, Liberal Democrat
Education Spokesperson, commented:
“These figures lay bare the impossible pressures our teachers are
being put under.
“It is simply unacceptable that those working tirelessly to do
the best for our children are seeing their mental ill-health
affected as a result.
“I’ve heard story after story of teachers experiencing 'burn out'
due to factors including work-load or mishandled Ofsted
inspections. But these are no longer just the rare or most
extreme cases - they are increasingly common.
“This must be wake-up call to the new Education Secretary
.
"Stress and anxiety are fuelling the teacher recruitment and
retention crisis, but the government’s current approach is making
matters worse.
“We need fundamental reform of assessments and inspections in our
schools, which are two of the greatest sources of anxiety for
teachers.
“It is completely wrong that teachers are made to feel that they
will be judged a success or a failure based on a single bad
inspection or a class that doesn't perform as well as
expected.
“The Government must also end the real-term cuts to pay for
teachers that are leaving them feeling overworked and
undervalued."
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Full figures by local council can be found here
