Nearly a third of teachers and other education workers are considering leaving their schools within the next year, a report finds.

A poll of 1,365 school staff, including teachers, teaching assistants, nursery staff and administrators found that 30 per cent were considering changing job in the next year.

Among mainscale teachers, this figure rose to 34 per cent.

Asked to choose one of four reasons why they are considering leaving the education sector, nearly half (47 per cent) of teachers said poor work/life balance.

Nearly four-fifths of senior teachers reported feeling pressure to leave at state pension age, regardless of their skills and experience, while 36 per cent in this category said that the pressure on them to leave at state pension age was significant.

The survey results may make ominous reading for the government, which has failed to hit its recruitment targets for education for four consecutive years.

Jenny Rollinson, managing director of Randstad Education, which carried out the survey, said: “The genuine concerns many teachers have should give the government food for thought.

“Something needs to be done, and fast, if children are to continue to receive the high quality education we know our teachers are capable of delivering.

“The education sector urgently needs to be revitalized and while the government must play its role, many schools, too, will have to do their bit to bring about change.”

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