Schools ‘in crisis’ as over half of teachers disatisfied with job

It suggests that government reforms to pay and pensions, as well as a heavy workload and school inspections are to blame for dissatisfaction and comes ahead of today’s one-day walkout from schools in the North-West of England organised by two major teaching unions as part of an ongoing row over pay, pensions and workload.

The industrial action by members of the NASUWT teaching union and the National Union of Teachers (NUT) has been condemned by the Department for Education.

The survey of more than 14,000 teachers, conducted by the NASUWT, found that more than half (53 per cent) said their satisfaction with their job has fallen in the last 12 months – up six per cent compared to those questioned in 2011.

Almost two-thirds have considered leaving their job in the past year, while more than half (54 per cent) have considered leaving teaching entirely, the survey claims.

It found that teachers’ top four concerns about their jobs are workload (chosen by 78 per cent), followed by government changes to pensions (51 per cent), pay (45 per cent) and school inspections (41 per cent).

The general secretary of NASUWT, Chris Keates, said: “Three years of relentless attacks on teachers by the Coalition Government have resulted in a profession in crisis.”

She added that teachers’ pay and working conditions and “inextricably linked to the provision of high quality education for all children and young people.”