National Education Union poll finds nearly three quarters of teachers have considered leaving the profession because of the negative impact of Ofsted on workload and their mental health

In a snap NEU poll of over 2000 teachers in England we asked for their thoughts about Ofsted.

The poll found:

·        72 per cent say they have considered leaving teaching because of the pressure Ofsted puts on their mental health, the unnecessary workload it creates, or both.

·        98 per cent of teachers say that preparing for and undergoing Ofsted inspections has a negative impact on staff mental health and wellbeing.

·        84% say that Ofsted has a negative impact on teaching and learning in schools.

Ofsted is driving a growing retention crisis in schools

Almost three quarters (72%) of teachers have considered leaving teachers because of the pressure Ofsted puts on their mental health, the unnecessary workload it creates, or both. Broken down by sector, nearly four fifths (79%) of primary school teachers have considered leaving, with more than two thirds (64%) of secondary schools saying they have considered exiting the profession.

With1 in 3 teachers leaving the classroom less than five years from starting in the classroom and with over 40,000 leaving in the last year alone, it is vital that any new government urgently address the unnecessary workload and untenable stress the current inspection scheme generates.

Our members have said:

“Unimaginable stress – one male member of staff had panic attacks at school on the second day and was unable to teach. Horrible, horrific ordeal. I won't be in teaching when the next Ofsted is due. I shall take early retirement rather than go through it again.” 

“Ofsted causes teachers to quit because of the pressure. As teachers we are already under immense pressure.”

“I have known two head teachers who have [left] their roles by mental health caused by inspections.”

Almost all teachers say Ofsted has a negative impact on teacher mental health

Teachers overwhelmingly agree that preparing for and undergoing Ofsted inspections have a negative impact on staff mental health and wellbeing, with 98 per cent supporting this statement.

In response to this survey, school staff have shared many harrowing stories detailing the impact Ofsted has on them:

“Even though my head knows day in, day out, that she runs a good school, she was so stressed about the prospect of the inspection going wrong that she put her house on the market months before in case she didn't get ‘Good'. She just kept saying ‘I need a way out'.” 

“For the last Ofsted inspection I was so anxious I couldn't go into work, I was having panic attacks, feeling sick, not sleeping – then felt guilt for letting my school and team down.” 

“Did not sleep properly for over a year as [my school] was in the window [of expecting a visit from Ofsted]. Ended up being investigated for heart problems which the consultant put down to workload and stress.”

Ofsted has a negative impact on teaching and learning in schools

8 in 10 teachers (82 per cent) say that preparing for and undergoing Ofsted inspection has a negative impact on teaching and learning in their school, with nearly two thirds (62 per cent) saying it has a ‘large' negative impact.

It is not the first time NEU members have raised the arduous preparation schools undergo ahead of an Ofsted inspection as a source of exhaustion and frustration, which is felt to take teachers away from work that supports pupils in favour of unnecessary ‘box ticking' exercises.

Members reported:

“It makes schools focus on what Ofsted want to see, not what the students most need.” 

“You worry about creating evidence rather than encouraging learning. It's not what I'm in teaching for. And when you start to realise that this is an ongoing vicious cycle and will continue throughout your teaching life, you realise it's probably time to rethink your own career.” 

“Negative impact, lots of stress, students do not receive quality teaching during the period of inspection as everyone is focused on the judgement of a few minutes.”

Nearly all teachers want Ofsted reformed or replaced

99 per cent of teachers hope that Ofsted will be reformed or replaced by the next government, with only 1 per cent of respondents hoping school inspections will stay as they are.

Overall, nearly a quarter (23 per cent) hope for reform the ways Ofsted holds schools accountable with more than three quarters (76 per cent) hoping the next government will abolish Ofsted and replace it with a completely new accountability system.

Members said:

“I don't disagree with schools being inspected, but the current system is not fair or even useful. It is definitely not fit for purpose.” 

“I have been through 6 Ofsted inspections. Different schools but the same amount of stress and pressure. Even if the school is classed as Good the pressure to keep it is high. It means constant classroom observations by LST… disruptions for the pupils… horrible experience. 

“We are forced to work for Ofsted rather than prioritising children's needs, unnecessary workload leads to burnout… children know when their teachers are stressed.”

The NEU is proud to have sponsored and been a part of the Beyond Ofsted Inquiry, which published a report last year into how to build an alternative school inspection system to Ofsted – one that is supportive, effective and fair.

Commenting on the poll results, Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:

“Sadly, it comes as no surprise that the appalling stress, demoralisation and workload pressure is driving too many teachers to leave this vital profession. We have seen all too frequently the devastation that Ofsted has wrecked on the lives of school staff, school leaders and also their families. Despite the inspectorate's assurances that it understands that change is needed, it is clear that the toxic inspection approach sits at the heart of the teacher retention challenge, which undermines the potential and capacity of our school system. We ignore the link between this form of inspection and the worst teacher retention figures ever, at our peril.

‘Ofsted drives a culture of unsustainable workload in schools which needs to stop. Ofsted preparation takes teachers away from tasks that support pupils' learning or their inclusion; and pressures teachers and leaders into ‘tick boxing' exercises for the benefit of ‘proving things' to inspectors.  

‘Ofsted is damaging teacher and school leaders' mental health, undermining quality learning and jeopardising rates of inclusion of children – the levels of pupil absence and teacher loss show us this and this further poll confirms the link. A new government needs to tackle these problems head on by abolishing Ofsted and replacing it with a better system that is supportive, effective and fair. Inspection should be a gateway to support and development and to sharing good practice around the system. That would be motivational and exciting for professionals. ”

ENDS

Editor's Note

The survey of 2,398 National Education Union members in England was conducted by the NEU between 11-12 June 2024, two weeks after the announcement of a General Election.

The data has been reweighted in line with national figures to control for gender, region, age, role, school phase, school governance type, and level of deprivation in schools as measured by proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM).

Beyond Ofsted inquiry

The Beyond Ofsted inquiry is an independent inquiry sponsored by the National Education Union. It was established to develop a set of principles for underpinning a better school inspection system and proposals for an alternative approach. The final report of the Beyond Ofsted Inquiry can be accessed here: https://beyondofsted.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Beyond-Ofsted-Report.pdf

More information about the Inquiry can be found here: https://beyondofsted.org.uk/