NASUWT: Poll reveals new teachers do not feel valued or respected
The overwhelming majority of teachers at the end of their first year in the profession have condemned the government’s failure to respect and value new teachers.
85% of new teachers who attended an NASUWT seminar today in Birmingham said that they feel that the government rarely or never respects them.
Participants took part in a real-time electronic poll which explored their views on a series of issues relating to their profession:
Among other results from the poll:
- 97% of new teachers said that the government does not understand the realities for new teachers starting a career in teaching;
- Over half (56%) said that headteachers do not understand the day to day realities of teaching in the classroom;
- Over a third (36%) said the quality of support they received from their school during the induction year was inadequate;
- Over a fifth (21%) have experienced problems finding a teaching job suitable to complete their induction;
- Access to professional development was identified as a priority for improving the quality of new teacher induction – 30% said that better access to quality mentoring from experienced teachers would make the biggest positive difference to them as a new teacher.
Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, who addressed the seminar, said:
“The commitment of new teachers is being seriously undermined as a result of a widespread failure to secure access to high quality induction support in all schools.
“It is alarming to hear feedback from new teachers who routinely are being denied their induction entitlements, including access to a dedicated induction mentor and guaranteed time for induction support and training.
“It is a travesty that so many new teachers are denied a decent start to their careers in teaching.
“Governments across the UK need to take seriously the need to better ensure consistency and quality of induction support, and a guaranteed induction placement, for all new teachers irrespective of where they are teaching.”
ENDS
Contact:
Lena Davies
Press and Media Officer
NASUWT
0121 457 6250 / 07867 392 746
lena.davies@mail.nasuwt.org.uk
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