Lib Dems warn nearly half of UK teachers plan to quit
Liberal Democrats survey reveals nearly 50% of English teachers plan to quit in 5 years, urging urgent action on working hours.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Lib Dems survey shows nearly half of teachers in England plan to quit in 5 years
- More than 75% of surveyed educators reported feeling frequently or constantly burnt out
- Party urges the government to fully fund teacher pay rises without cutting school budgets
As the new academic term approaches, the Liberal Democrats have called for emergency measures to tackle the teacher retention crisis, arguing that burnt-out educators urgently need improved working hours and better support to prevent them from leaving the profession.
A survey conducted across England with more than 900 teachers, headteachers, and Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs)—in collaboration with the National Education Union (NEU) and the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL)—revealed that nearly half of those in post are considering leaving the classroom within the next five years.
Furthermore, the data showed that one in ten teachers plan to spend less than a year remaining in the job. More than three-quarters of respondents stated they felt frequently or constantly burnt out at work, citing excessive workloads related to marking, lesson preparation, and administrative tasks that reduce actual teaching time.
"We rely on teachers to educate our children, the least we can do is make sure they want to come back after the summer."
The Lib Dems are urging the new Education Secretary to fully fund a 3.5% teacher pay rise starting in September, alongside an additional 3% the following year, instead of raiding existing school budgets. The party's proposals also include enforcing legally mandated working hours, setting reasonable limits on overtime, and requiring all schools to implement flexible working policies.
Teacher retention has long been a complex challenge for successive governments in the UK, often exacerbated by excessive workloads and administrative accountability. Proposals targeting overtime limits and fully funded compensation highlight ongoing debates over how structural reforms are necessary to alleviate severe burnout among educational professionals.
In response, a Department for Education spokesperson acknowledged that while last year saw one of the lowest teacher departure rates since 2010 alongside a record number of returning educators, the department recognizes that there is still much more work to do to support the workforce.
Source: BBC Politics
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