The Liberal Democrats are calling for immediate government intervention to address what they describe as a crisis in teacher retention, urging new Education Secretary Lucy Powell to implement emergency measures before the upcoming school term.
A recent survey conducted by the party suggests that almost half of teachers in England are considering leaving the profession within the next five years, with many citing burnout and excessive workloads as primary reasons.
The survey, which polled over 900 teachers, headteachers, and Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs), found that more than three-quarters of respondents reported feeling "frequently or constantly burnt out" during their work. High workloads, including marking, lesson preparation, and other administrative tasks, were identified as significant contributors to stress and reduced time in the classroom.
"We rely on teachers to educate our children, the least we can do is make sure they want to come back after the summer," said Liberal Democrats' schools spokesperson Caroline Voaden. The party is advocating for fully funded pay increases for teachers, rather than allowing schools to absorb the costs from existing budgets, and for the introduction of limits on teachers' legally mandated working hours. They also propose that all schools be required to offer flexible working policies.
The Liberal Democrats' proposals come as teacher retention has been a persistent challenge for successive governments. In 2019, the National Education Union (NEU) reported that 40% of teachers were considering leaving due to "huge workloads and excessive accountability."
The Department for Education acknowledged the ongoing challenges, stating that while the rate of teachers leaving the profession was at its lowest since 2010 last year, "there is more to do." The department highlighted its commitment to supporting teachers through pay awards totaling nearly 17% over two years, funding initiatives to improve maternity pay, and offering targeted support for flexible working and manageable workloads.
The Liberal Democrats' survey was conducted with the assistance of the NEU and the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL). The NEU's general secretary, Daniel Kebede, emphasized the need for a "fresh start for our schools" with full funding for pay awards and school budgets to address the recruitment and retention crisis.