More than a third of Welsh school teachers plan to quit in three years, survey finds

More than a third (33.6%) of Welsh school teachers plan to quit the profession within the next three years, according to the findings of a nationwide survey.

Released today by the Welsh Government, the National Education Workforce Survey for Wales also revealed that 78.1% of teachers feel that their workload is the ‘least rewarding’ aspect of their role.

Meanwhile, two in five (38.6%) teachers said they are ‘not very familiar or at all familiar’ with Professor Donaldson’s schools curriculum reform, which is currently being rolled out on a pilot basis across the country with a view to full implementation by 2021.

Fifty-eight per cent of teachers indicated they had not in the last year used the existing ‘Practising Teacher’ standards or leadership standards in setting objectives, planning development or reviewing performance.

Respondents to the survey amounted to 10,408 members of Wales’ education workforce.

Responding to the survey, Welsh Conservative Shadow Education Secretary, Darren Millar AM, said:

“These findings are alarming; they paint a picture of a teaching profession that’s overworked and disillusioned about the future.

“The survey compounds the fact that Wales is already struggling to recruit teachers in some disciplines. That a third of Welsh school teachers and one in four of Welsh colleges’ teaching workforce plan to quit within the next three years, signals a looming staffing crisis of unprecedented proportions.

“With so many teachers threatening to leave, and so few teachers aware of the new curriculum, it is very difficult to see how the Cabinet Secretary will be able to deliver the world-leading education system our children need and deserve.

“I have tabled an urgent question to the Welsh Labour Government and expect them to respond fully and thoroughly to these concerns.”