Issues such as work-life balance, pupil indiscipline, bullying by management and lack of career progression are the top reasons teachers and lecturers who answered a survey considered leaving or left their current jobs.
Of those who answered a survey on reasons for leaving their posts, 71 per cent said they thought about resigning and 29 per cent did resign. Among those who resigned, 57 per cent left the profession altogether with 36 per cent of those saying they would not consider returning.
Patrick Nash, Chief Executive, Teacher Support Network said:
"Teacher Support Network’s survey aims to find out which key issues force teachers and lecturers to resign or consider resigning so we can develop our services to prevent them handing in their notice.
"Whilst work-life balance and pupil indiscipline remain a concern for many teachers and lecturers, problems have emerged in the areas of lack of career progression and bullying by management.
"Workload and work-life balance for teachers should be partly addressed by the introduction of planning, preparation and assessment time from September. Teacher Support Networks urges schools and colleges to ensure the long-hours culture is tackled to prevent teachers and lecturers from burn-out.
"Measures towards combating pupil indiscipline include zero tolerance policies and Codes of Conduct agreed by the whole school with clear, enforceable sanctions. “Wherever appropriate, Teacher Support Network refers incidents of management bullying to the unions but also helps teachers and lecturers develop strategies to cope with this stressful situation.
"Many older teachers with years of experience are leaving the profession, taking with them key knowledge and expertise which could be used by schools to support and mentor less experienced colleagues.
"Newer teachers are also leaving early on in their careers, which has cost implications for schools in recruiting new staff and covering for vacancies, as well as the cost of recruiting people into training. The high turnover can also be disruptive to pupils who often look to teachers for stability and routine."
The questionnaire revealed: Of those who considered resigning because of school-based issues:

• 69 per cent blamed work-life balance/workload as a contributing factor
• 47 per cent cited pupil indiscipline
• 47 per cent said bullying by management
• 40 per cent cited lack of career progression

Of those who had resigned because of personal reasons:

• 22 per cent said they left because of health issues such as work-related stress
• 36 per cent had carer responsibilities either for children or elderly and sick relatives

In terms of classroom experience:

• 28 per cent have been teaching for 21-30 years
• 24 per cent for 11-20 years
• 21 per cent for 4-10 years
• 16 per cent for 30 years and over
• 11 per cent have been teaching for 1-3 years