Voice: the union for education
professionals – which represents
teachers, headteachers and support staff – has welcomed the
publication of the Commons Education Committee’s
report, Recruitment and retention of
teachers.
General Secretary Deborah Lawson said: “We
welcome the Committee’s report – in particular because it
highlights the fact that there is a retentioncrisis, as well as a
recruitment crisis, in our schools.
“We call on the Government to listen to the
Committee and act on its recommendations, rather than dismiss
them with its usual platitudes.
“It should look at whether money spent on its
current recruitment incentives, and policies such as the drive
for new grammar schools, would be better invested in increasing
teachers’ salaries, to make teaching an attractive career when
compared with other graduate professions.
“As the report points out, a focus on retention
could be cost-effective in both keeping teachers and
strengthening and growing the pool of future leaders.
“The issues that the report highlights – such as
teacher workload, pressure from frequent and major policy
changes, the status of teachers, and the ability of teachers to
access training for continuing professional development (CPD) –
are all concerns raised by Voice, including in its own written
submission to the Committee.
“The Government must act to address these
issues and others that are driving teachers away from the
profession or deterring them from becoming school
leaders.
“Teaching must once again be perceived as an
attractive profession to join and a career with
prospects.”
