Teacher's Wellbeing

In recent years we have seen a real crisis emerge among teaching staff and other workers within schools. Many teachers are burnt out, and too many are leaving the profession.

That’s why I support the Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity for young people, which must include a stable, skilled, and respected teaching profession. Our children deserve the very best teachers in world-class school.

I welcome Ministers’ announcements that this Government will recruit 6,500 additional expert teachers and strive to improve rates of teacher retention. I was pleased that this Government made a 5.5% pay award to teachers after many years of stagnating and even falling wages, and that this will mean an extra £2,500 each year for teachers on average. Our teachers deserve no less. The pay settlement also reduced workloads by removing the requirement for schools to use the performance related pay system and clarifying flexible working arrangements.

I recognise that there are multiple competing pressures adding to the strain on educators. This is why I support the Government’s actions to tackle child poverty, increase provision for the special education needs and disabilities (SEND) system and strengthen family help services. These initiatives include the rollout of free school breakfast clubs, planned for April 2025, and an additional £1 billion for SEND outlined in the Autumn budget.

The Government knows that improved mental health services for young people will be essential to breaking down barriers to opportunity. This is why Ministers have committed to giving every school access to mental health specialists, which will help the next generation of young people with their mental health, wellbeing and resilience.

Going forward, I will continue my work supporting our teachers. The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill passed its Second Reading in January and is entering the Committee Stage. The Bill will give every school teacher the same pay and conditions offer, while ensuring schools have greater flexibility to attract and retain the best talent. It will aim to address low retention levels by giving teachers more flexibility in working arrangements.

I will also closely follow the government’s ongoing commitments to reform SEND provision and improve teacher retention, and support measures to make teaching a rewarding and respected profession.

We cannot break down barriers to opportunity for our children and young people without a dedicated and energised teaching workforce.