Commenting on Education Support’s new report Teaching: The New Reality, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“Teachers and school leaders will recognise many of the findings in this report, which point to a chronic shortage of resources versus a growing demand for pupil support. The findings make plain that this is not a simple nine-to-five job and amounts to a great deal more than delivering education.
“The weight of responsibility placed on teachers has grown significantly in recent years. Local support services for young people have either been cut or are overwhelmed, with waiting lists for referrals extending for many months. The emotional support for pupils can weigh heavy on teachers, also, and workload pressures often puts their own mental health at risk.
“The Government is simply not taking seriously the gravity of the situation – and is unwilling to do what is necessary to properly support schools in their work with young people. The legacy of neglect can be seen in the recruitment and retention crisis, persistent underfunding of schools and colleges, and a workload crisis which a succession of education secretaries have failed to tackle.”