Liberal Democrats urge new education secretary to curb teacher burnout and quits

According to a Liberal Democrat poll of more than 900 educators across England, close to half are considering leaving the classroom within five years, and one in ten may depart in less than a year. Respondents reported frequent burnout due to heavy marking, lesson planning and other duties that reduce classroom time. The party’s schools spokesperson, Caroline Voaden, urged new Education Secretary Lucy Powell to fully fund the planned 3.5% pay rise and the subsequent 3% increase, rather than drawing on school budgets, and to enforce legal limits on overtime and flexible-working policies.

The Department for Education highlighted that last year saw the lowest teacher attrition since 2010 but acknowledged further steps are required. The survey was carried out with assistance from the National Education Union and the Association of School and College Leaders, both of which called for comprehensive funding to address the recruitment and retention crisis.