The UK teaching crisis: why more teachers are leaving and what are the alternatives?

Teachers want to teach. They want to help children but instead they’re faced with increased bureaucracy and huge workloads. This results in teachers being paid for far fewer hours than the 46 to 59 hours that in many cases they actually work. Many teachers also report that there is an increase in forms and paperwork and this is the reason given for the increased time spent on unnecessary or bureaucratic tasks.

Ofsted is another cross to bear and is perceived as the architect of the red tape restricting teacher effectiveness. Inspections are so focused on box ticking that even a school delivering excellent outcomes can receive a disappointing report.

Due to the increase in workload felt by nearly 70% of teachers, many are now saying that it has negatively affected their work-life balance. It’s no wonder that teachers are dropping out of the profession. How can you have job satisfaction if you feel your profession is undervalued and your workload is seemingly never ending? There seems to be an ever-increasing pressure put on teachers with the expectation of bringing work home becoming the norm.

Class sizes are increasing, especially due to the pandemic, with some schools having to put more pupils together in classrooms to cover the absence of self-isolating teachers. Not only does this increase a teacher’s workload but it can also lead to cramped working conditions for all involved. Understandably, teachers can feel overwhelmed when they are solely responsible for 35 to 40 children.

Most teachers who are looking to leave the classroom are still passionate about working with children and helping them achieve better futures. Luckily, there are other ways they can still fulfil this passion, without the frustrations of working in schools. Becoming a tutor is one such opportunity. The demand for tuition is currently at an all-time high, due to the catastrophic impact of the pandemic on children’s education. This is set to increase further, as parents realise how far their children have fallen behind and seek additional support as a result.

There’s no time like the present to take the next steps

If this article rings true with you, why not consider your next steps? What better time than this to set up your own tuition business? Use your teaching skills to help children get their education back on track and rebuild their confidence, while at the same time taking back control of your own work-life balance. If individual private tutoring sounds a bit daunting to you, then setting up a tuition centre with an established franchise, may be the opportunity you’re looking for. Starting a new Centre with a highly regarded brand like First Class Learning with its proven model eliminates many of the risks of embarking upon a new business. As part of the package, you are supported throughout the process, provided with full training and access to high quality, effective learning materials, as well as plenty of help with marketing to grow your student numbers. Why not contact First Class Learning to find out more?