Responding to analysis from the National Foundation for
Educational Research (NFER), which shows that recruitment and
retention issues are persisting in education, Geoff Barton,
General Secretary of the Association of School and College
Leaders, said:
“The reality borne out by this bleak report is that, on average,
teachers work longer hours for less money than graduates in other
jobs. It is very difficult to see how the recruitment and
retention crisis can be solved under these circumstances.
“As this report states, the erosion of external support services
is piling more pressure on to teachers and school leaders. This
has only worsened since the pandemic with additional challenges
around behaviour and attendance and an increasing number of
pupils who either have unmet special educational needs or are
unable to access mental health support. The workload pressures
that this is causing in schools and colleges are not something
that can be alleviated by tinkering with the system but require
sustained investment in public services.
“Pay is another hugely influential factor when it comes to
recruitment and retention, but NFER’s report states that it is
unlikely that last year’s award has significantly improved the
competitiveness of pay compared with other professions. It is
therefore crucial that this year’s pay award, as well as being
fully funded, begins to restore the erosion of pay which has
taken place since 2010 and moves teaching towards a more equal
footing with other graduate jobs.
“Society cannot function without teachers and we currently have a
critical shortage in our schools and colleges. It is high time
the government gave this crisis the attention it warrants.”
