Obsession with structural change will not deliver a better deal for teachers

Commenting on the programme set out in the Queen’s Speech, Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union said:

“The Government’s legislative plans show that, yet again, they are out of touch with the realities affecting the education of children and young people.

“As ministers continue to indulge their obsession with tinkering with school structures, they risk exacerbating an already epic teacher recruitment and retention crisis. There is nothing in this legislative programme to restore the confidence of the teaching profession.

“At a time when two-thirds of teachers are seriously considering quitting the profession due to excessive workload and low pay, the Government has failed to come forward with the measures needed to address the fundamental problems that schools and colleges face.

“In stark contrast to the Government, parents and the public understand that we will not have a great education system whilst teachers are demoralised or quitting the job.

“The exodus of skilled teachers and headteachers leaving the profession and a deepening mental health crisis are blighting the efforts of schools and colleges to secure the education recovery that children and young people deserve.

“After more than a decade, the Government is continuing to fail to deliver a competent plan that will ensure that all schools and colleges are properly supported, funded and resourced to deliver the very best for their pupils.

“The Government needs to wake up to the scale and depth of the crisis facing affecting the provision of education in our schools and colleges and urgently deal with the problems they have created over the course of the last decade.

“Instead of wasting precious time, the Government should be focused on resolving the recruitment and retention crisis by substantially boosting funding for schools and colleges, delivering a substantial pay award for all teachers, tackling excessive workload, and taking urgent action to outlaw the appalling use of fire and rehire practices, precarious employment and discrimination at work.

“Teachers and pupils deserve better.”