With nearly half of new teachers leaving the profession within five years, retaining new talent and maximising their potential is a priority for all schools. Chris Wheatley believes it’s up to school leaders to create the conditions that prevent new teachers losing their early enthusiasm.
Recent Department for Education figures reveal that nearly half of teachers leave the maintained sector within five years of qualifying. These statistics show that the pressures of the job today are significant and for me, are the main reason why we have this challenge. For many new teachers, the level of work required can sometimes be a shock to the system.
The responsibilities and accountability that teachers have today contribute to that pressure. Along with the number one priority – children’s attainment – there’s also school performance tables, internal performance management and Ofsted.
The day-to-day realities of a teacher’s job are different too. For example, when I became a primary teacher back in the 1990s, the recommended approach to marking children’s work was the ‘bubble and block’ approach. A tick and a simple comment with a learning point was the norm.
Today, we expect a much more detailed approach, with responses from every child that prove their learning. Then there is personalisation of each pupil’s learning and a greater emphasis on the planning, checking and marking of children’s homework. This can be difficult to keep on top of in classes of over 30 students.