The Chartered College of Teaching has today (23rd March) responded to a new international study by the OECD into teachers’ working conditions and learning environments.

The Teaching and Learning International Study (TALIS) includes the following findings:

• Teachers want more training to be better equipped to use ICT for teaching
• Most teachers feel in control of their practice, although teachers in England are at the lower end of the scale
• Teachers in England are above the OECD average in being open to change and innovation
• There is a great need to find ways to use technology to maintain relationships between teachers and students
• ‘Novice’ teachers are more likely to work in ‘challenging’ schools and receive less mentoring
• Collaborative professional learning is below the OECD average in England
• Key areas which cause spikes in teacher stress include individual planning or lesson preparation, general administration work and marking
• Under 30% of teachers feel valued by society and is lower than five years ago

Professor Dame Alison Peacock, Chief Executive of the Chartered College of Teaching, said:

“Celebrating our teachers for their work and dedication to the education of young people is vital. However, today’s results show that teachers feel less valued than they were five years ago. This echoes the Chartered College of Teaching’s own research. In these challenging times, our teachers deserve to be lauded even more than before.

We also need to ensure teachers have access to the resources and information to maintain connections with colleagues and pupils. Including supporting teachers to be confident using technology, creating opportunities to collaborate and ensuring teachers at all stages have ongoing mentoring and support. Mobilising and sharing these tools is vital in the coming weeks and it must involve the whole profession working together.”