Newly Qualified Teachers Quit In Their Thousands

5.07.03

Government heading towards another crisis in Education

Local Liberal Democrat MP Edward Davey has today criticised the Government in light of new figures that show the number of teachers leaving schools has nearly doubled since Labour came to power. The new report by the Department for Education and Skills study into teachers leaving the profession shows that 1/3 of new entrants to teaching will quit within three years. Some core subjects, such as Maths where the number of new entrants are falling, are particularly hard hit.

Edward Davey MP commented

"I am seriously concerned about the effects the Government's Education Policies are having on the schools in Kingston and Surbiton. They are storing up considerable problems for the future and are heading towards another crisis in education. Our children's education will pay the price of the Government's failure to retain teachers.

"Disillusioned, undervalued, stressed and fed up, our newly qualified teachers are fleeing the profession. And this study highlights that increasing government interference in their classrooms is forcing experienced teachers out of schools.

"The Government has to recognise that retaining teachers, experienced and newly qualified, is just as important as recruiting new staff.

"Experienced teachers are invaluable to our schools. Returning professional judgement to the teacher, removing the unnecessary pressure of annual league tables and providing a supportive structure of training and career development would show teachers that their hard work and dedication is valued." ENDS