A study has shown that there are more primary school teachers leaving the profession in Wales than England, as unions cite major issues in the profession. 

Looking specifically at classroom teachers, the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) found that the leaving rate – known as the attrition rate – among primary classroom teachers was 0.6 per centage points higher in Wales compared with England.

Among secondary classroom teachers, the difference was also 0.6 per centage points, but this time with lower attrition in England, the NFER said.

The attrition rate was defined as the percentage of teachers leaving the state-funded sector between the 2019/20 academic year and the 2020/21 academic year.

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The UCAC, Wales’s own education union for teachers, head-teachers, lecturers and tutors, has found that whilst the number of teachers leaving the profession reduced during the pandemic, recent findings show it is back to pre-pandemic levels. 

Ioan Rhys Jones, UCAC Field Officer for North Wales covering Conwy, Gwynedd, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham, believes that the current pressures teachers are under is having a contribution. 

He said: "During the pandemic, it was an 'all hands on deck' mentality therefore the working conditions for teachers deteriorated. 

"Working during lunch, no breaks and that has resulted in low morale."

Mr Rhys Jones also recognised the impact of the changing curriculum on causing increased pressure for Welsh primary school teachers. 

The new curriculum came into place across Wales this September.

He said: "The new curriculum is based on the needs of the child and requires specific teaching skills.

"Whilst teachers have been trialing this curriculum over the last two years they have effectively been teaching two curriculums."

Another major concern for the unions is how the lack of consultation around changing school days and holidays has caused unnecessary strain on teaching staff. 

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The NEU teachers union shared these concerns about how the pressures on teachers are affecting teacher retention rates. 

Based on their own research, they found there is an anticipated one in five teachers in Wales leaving the profession in the first five years. 

David Evans, NEU Secretary for Wales said: "Resources and work load play a part as well as pay and the cost of living crisis."

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said more research is needed into why teachers are leaving the profession and why rates differ.

He said: “This is an interesting piece of research and the finding that teacher leaving rates between England and Wales are not uniform in one direction deserves further analysis to better understand the underlying reasons.

“However, what is certain is that in both jurisdictions the overriding reasons for teacher attrition are similar – pay and workload.

“Teacher pay has been eroded over the course of the past decade by government-implemented below-inflation pay awards which have made salaries increasingly uncompetitive.”

A spokesperson for the Welsh Government said: “By taking a social partnership approach, we support the teaching profession by ensuring their pay, terms and conditions are designed to best suit the profession here in Wales and provide higher salaries and allowances for both new and more experienced teachers than in England.

“We will continue to take action to support our invaluable workforce so that they can continue to provide the very best education for pupils.”

England’s Department for Education recognises there is more to do to attract and keep good schoolteachers and that action is being taken to improve recruitment, retention and quality of teaching.