Commenting on Education Support’s Teacher Wellbeing Index 2024, Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General Secretary, said:
 
“These findings are a reflection of the years of failure to address excessive and unnecessary workloads in the teaching profession and the deliberate removal of investment in the wider network of support for children, young people and families under the previous Government.

“The health and welfare of our teachers and school leaders was the victim of choices made by the previous government which served to drive skilled and committed teachers out of the profession at a time when global events such as the pandemic and cost of living crisis meant that teachers were more needed than ever.

“We welcome the initial steps taken so far by the Labour Government to begin to right these wrongs and to rebuild the profession.

“We now need to see a teachers’ contract that protects teachers from the excessive workload and working hours which have proved to be so damaging to teachers’ health and wellbeing.

“Investment in trained in-school counsellors and in services beyond the school gates is also needed to make a real difference in improving children’s lives and educational outcomes.

“The Government’s pledge to recruit more teachers is welcome, but it must be accompanied by a commitment to a national workforce plan that will recruit and retain teachers, restore teacher wellbeing and morale, and build strong teams that are capable of meeting the needs of every child and young person throughout their lives.”