51% of teachers pessimistic about improving pupil achievement and six in ten support Gove’s decision to scrap EBacc plans
More than half (51%) of teachers in England and Wales are pessimistic that students’ level of achievement will improve in the next three years, YouGov’s latest TeacherTrack survey reveals. The research finds that less than three in ten (28%) are optimistic levels of achievement will be better three years from now.
YouGov’s results suggest teachers’ morale has a bearing on how they see pupil outcomes changing over the coming years. Seven out of ten people in the teaching profession with low morale are pessimistic about their students’ outcomes as opposed to 26% of teachers whose morale is high. Just 15% of those experiencing low morale in the classroom think student achievement will be better in three years’ time against 47% of teachers with high morale.
Overall, the TeacherTrack survey shows 44% of teachers have low and 27% have high morale. Three quarters (75%) feel under excessive pressure in their position but nearly six in ten (58%) are satisfied with their job and 40% are dissatisfied. There are mixed views from teachers on the attractiveness of entering the profession, with 42% who would recommend being a teacher as a great thing to do and 39% who would not recommend this.
Teachers’ opinion on “EBacctrack”
The nationally representative poll of 796 primary and secondary school teachers in England and Wales also found that six in ten (60%) support Michael Gove’s decision to abandon plans of a new English Baccalaureate (EBacc) qualification that would have replaced GCSEs. Only 12% of teachers are unhappy about the Education Secretary’s u-turn.
Secondary school teachers, who are the most affected by this change in policy, more strongly support the government’s decision with two thirds (66%) backing the Secretary of State’s move, compared to just over one in ten (11%) that are unhappy about it.
Ian Neale, YouGov Associate Director, said: “It is worrying that teachers with low morale are so much more pessimistic about the outcomes for their pupils over the next few years. This perhaps points to the fact that the stress teachers feel is influencing their outlook on the profession. The reversal over the EBacc will help in this area, making teachers feel the Government is listening to them more. However, the excessive pressure teachers feel and the sizable number with low morale suggest the Secretary of State has a tough job on his hands to invigorate the sector.”
