TEACHERS who quit this month are to be included in the first nationwide study of why people are leaving the profession.
The study will examine the age, gender and ethnic profile of teachers resigning this year.
It will also look at how long they have been in teaching and the type of school they leave. The Department for Education and Skills has commissioned Professor Alan Smithers of Liverpool University to conduct the survey. He begins his research next week.
Professor Smithers said: “The DFES is keen to get a clear picture of exactly how many teachers are leaving and, more importantly, who they are, where they are going and why they are leaving. This is the first extensive survey of its kind.” He will be using a 10 per cent sample of secondary schools and 5 per cent of primary schools in his research.
The intention to investigate reasons why black teachers quit was particularly welcomed.
The General Teaching Council for England has been urging the DFES since last April to look into the ethnic profiles of those who leave teaching prematurely.
Black teachers also welcomed the news. Nadia Fostor said: “I’m sure there is a larger percentage of ethnic minority teachers leaving the profession than white teachers.”
Ms Fostor, a regional officer at the Professional Association of Teachers, said she left full-time teaching in 1997 because she was not accepted by some white members of staff.
The research will study resignations in 2002 and will begin on February 28. Final results will be published in February 2003.
Latest available figures from the DFES show that 30,000 full and part-time teachers quit in 199900.
