Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of workload on teacher retention rates.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

The department is working closely with the sector to reduce workload and improve retention. This includes developing opportunities for more flexible working, such as allowing planning, preparation and assessment time to be undertaken remotely, and making resources to support workload and wellbeing available through our improve workload and wellbeing for school staff service.

Our interventions have helped improve retention with the latest data showing one of the lowest leaver rates on record, with 1,700 fewer teachers leaving the state-funded sector in 2023/24 compared to the year before, and more teachers returning to state schools than at any point in the last ten years.

We are going further with the introduction of the Child Poverty Strategy, the introduction of our strategy for giving every child the best start in life, reform to children’s social care, and the expansion of access to specialist mental health professionals. These measures will enhance teachers’ day-to-day experience and strengthen their ability to deliver. We are also supporting schools to use technology effectively.