“Everyone honestly feels they are making a difference. We are a particularly sociable lot, and not afraid to say we love the job - the holidays, the pensions, everything.”

Tony Broady, head of Walker technology college, on why many of the NQTs at his school stay until retirement

“It’s best to get it out of your system now, rather than disrupt your whole career in a few years’ time.”

Contributor to The TES online staffroom, explaining why she will go and teach abroad as soon as she has finished her NQT year

“The work of heads and teachers has been neglected for too long.”

David Hart, former general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, on the increasing number of teachers being recognised in the New Year’s honours list