This innovative research project is an in-depth study on recruitment and retention in the teaching profession across three different countries. This project cannot be completed in any single European country, teacher retention is an issue across Europe. In 2013 the European Commission reported on a Europe-wide shortage of qualified teachers and in 2018, the European Commission reported that almost half of the countries in Europe are faced with an ageing teacher population. The European Commission has attributed the shortage of teachers to a number of different things: • lack of quality candidates • declining status of the profession • workload and stress • poor working conditions • low pay compared with equivalent professions • onerous marking policies • demanding parents • ageing teachers, many approaching retirement Since 2013 the situation has not improved, if anything it has worsened. Over the years unsustainable solutions have been adopted which have added to the problem rather than eased it. Most teachers have no intention of leaving the profession and shortages have often meant longer working hours, larger classes, and in some countries, a raise in the retirement age meaning practising teachers are in the profession longer. We recognise that if teacher trainers/educators (Initial Teacher Education ITE) and school leaders fully understood the problems faced by students/newly qualified teachers (NQTs), the solution would be easily found. Bit this has not been the case, ITE and NQT support have not changed. If this continues, we will get the same levels of drop out. Something needs to change. This project aims to get to the heart of the problem. This study is innovative as it researches specific target groups across the field of teacher education/education from creating interest from future students entering ITE courses, during ITE particularly teaching practice placements and during the NQT first year. We will also conduct our research with pupils taught by NQTs/ITE students to establish their views on this specific group of teaching staff and their opinions/attitudes towards them. Our focus for ITE students and NQTs will be on their Health/well-being (mental health) and support/guidance they receive during their ITE course and transition into the first year of teaching as NQTs. Through this work we aim to develop more sustainable, innovative solutions to: • retaining student teachers whilst still studying and • ensuring more teachers do not leave the profession shortly after qualifying With partners in Wales, Poland and Turkey, we will engage universities, ITE organisations and schools to work with student teachers, NQTs, practising teachers and young learners. We will research into the reasons why so many student teachers leave the profession before qualifying and why so many younger, NQTs leave the profession early. The research will be broad and flexible as the research develops. Our investigation will include: • whether student teacher expectations are different to the experiences they have • -what happens during teaching practice? • -are schools supporting students appropriately during teaching placements • is support for newly qualified teachers appropriate in their new places of work? If not, why not? • what do young learners think about being taught by student and/or newly qualified teachers? • is the modern classroom meeting the needs of 21st century teachers? Our applied research methodology will include qualitative and quantitative data gathering through robust field research including questionnaires, focus groups and individual interviews, and observations. Our results will be analysed using appropriate methodology and will results in a set of research papers covering the following: • Teacher training/education ITE programmes • Expectations (of ITE students) • The new job (NQT first year of teaching) We will review and research how ITE/NQT year prepares our target groups for 21st century teaching – curricular and conditions – and how we can STRENGTHEN the PROFILE of the TEACHING PROFESSION, impact on PEDAGOGY and DIDACTICS. We will also develop a robust process for INNOVATION and RESEARCH into this growing problem across Europe and wider of teacher drop out in early year of professional development. Our expected impact is to meet priorities in Erasmus+ Programme 2020 by developing: - a more modern, dynamic, committed and professional environment - strategic planning of professional development for staff in line with individual needs and organisational objectives - teachers ready to integrate good practices and new methods into daily activities - strategic planning of professional development for staff in line with individual needs and organisational objectives Finally we anticipate this research will develop ITE/NQT programmes that meet the needs of individuals to IMPROVE THE RECRUITMENT & RETENTION with the teaching profession and reduce TEACHER DROP OUT.
Our research aimed to focus on how we could improve the experiences of NQTs and trainee teachers to prepare the adequately for the difficult, but rewarding, career choices they have made. Through in-depth understanding of the reasons behind those leaving the profession we aimed to discover innovative solutions to retaining student and NQT teachers, understand why many student teacher expectations are different to the experiences they have and what happens during teaching practice and student teaching placements.
Across Europe there are shortages of qualified teachers and the most highly qualified are the most likely to leave. In addition, in 2020 a European Parliament study reported “an ageing teacher population, severe teacher shortages, difficulties with retaining younger teachers, […]only 7 % of all teachers are under 30 years old, while around 36 % are 50 or older (Katsarova, 2020). Over the years unsustainable solutions have been adopted which have added to the problem rather than eased it, further compounded by unexpected problems such as Covid-19. continues, we will get the same levels of drop out. Something needs to change. This project aimed to get to the heart of the problem by researching specific target groups across the field of the profession including Initial Teacher Education (ITE), Newly Qualified Teachers (NQT), practicing teachers, headteachers, young learners. We looked into why so many student teachers leave the profession before qualifying and why so many younger, NQTs leave the profession early and how our research could develop ITE/NQT programmes that meet the needs of individuals to with a view to improve recruitment and retention and reduce TEACHER DROP OUT.