TEACHING STILL SEEN AS A JOB FOR LIFE – CHARTERED COLLEGE SURVEY

• 62% of people agree teaching is a job for life
• 53% of teachers would not be likely to recommend teaching as a career to children and young adults
• 61% of the public think the work of teachers is valued less than it was five years ago
• 78% of the public agree we need to do more to recognise the work of teachers
• #YourProfession campaign launched by Chartered College of Teaching to support people training to enter the profession

Teaching is still seen as a job for life. These are the results of a new YouGov survey of the general public for the Chartered College of Teaching. The findings were released as the professional body for the teaching profession launches its new campaign, #YourProfession, to support and celebrate the work of teachers.

This came despite six out of ten people (61%) agreeing that teachers are valued less now than they were five years ago. Over three-quarters (78%) of the public also said more needed to be done to recognise the work of teachers. With the profession experiencing a decline in the number of teachers entering the profession and one in three early career teachers leaving within five years, over half of teachers themselves said they would not recommend teaching as a career to children or young adults.

As part of the #YourProfession campaign, the Chartered College is supporting students and NQTs entering the profession with the support to make the strongest start to their career and be in the best position to manage challenges. This includes an early career guide packed with advice and insight from teachers and experts, a series of early-career events across the country and an Early Career Conference. This is in addition to the Chartered College’s upcoming celebrations for the very first teachers in the country to receive Chartered Teacher status.

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

“Our teachers play a crucial role in shaping the lives of young people. Despite growing workloads and stretched resources our teachers have a positive impact on society every single day. With these growing pressures, it is unfortunately not surprising that people are reluctant to recommend teaching as a career.

At the Chartered College of Teaching we wholeheartedly believe that teachers should be celebrated for their work. They need to have the support of the whole of society and have access to the tools and insight to be the best teacher they can be. If we can support our teachers from the second they start training and celebrate them throughout their career for their impact, we can build the strongest profession possible.”

Teachers are being encouraged to join their professional body for teaching and share their teaching tips using #YourProfession online.