I imagine most readers would agree that teaching is one of the key roles in society - a job that supports young people to grow and develop into adults, and ultimately paves the way for all careers.
Everyone has a view and an interest in education, and it is usually central to the political agenda. In Scotland, it is seen as the government’s main priority.
I also like to think that there would be general agreement that the most valuable resource in the education system is our teachers. Scottish education is well respected throughout the world, and rightly aims to be among the best: and a world-class system requires world-class teachers.
At its best, teaching can bring fulfilment and joy. Anyone who has worked in education over a prolonged period will recognise the rewards of working with children and young people, and being part of a community. The best learning establishments are collaborative, supportive and enjoyable to be part of. So why do we appear to have a problem attracting people into the profession?
I believe we are in dangerous territory at present, where the strengths of the role are heavily counterbalanced by the weaknesses, while the opportunities are being weighed down by the threats. We need to tip the scales in the right direction, and quickly.
Teaching has generally been a well-paid profession. However, we currently have issues with the cost-of-living crisis, as well as historical problems with pay erosion, so that now, the profession suffers by comparison with other similarly qualified professions. And we have a system of reimbursement for promoted posts which needs to be completely redesigned. Teachers have taken strike action in the past few weeks for valid reasons and this must be resolved urgently.
There are career progressions and opportunities but budget constraints over many years have decreased these opportunities, such as the imposition of faculty head roles at the expense of subject leaders, and a reduction in senior leadership positions.
We have a commitment to empower schools to make the best decisions for our learners, yet this remains extremely variable across Scotland. There is a distinct lack of fairness and equity in funding and staffing. And despite clear commitments over many years, we still have significant problems with managing workload and tackling bureaucracy. Our teachers are in front of classes for too many hours per week at the expense of time for creativity and collaboration.
A clear plus point of the job is the joy of working with young people but the corresponding challenge is dealing with the problematic behaviours of individuals and groups. This is not new but the pandemic has exacerbated it. There has been a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of many children, and we are seeing this translate into even more challenging behaviour in schools and communities than pre-pandemic (Tes Scotland will publish a long read on this tomorrow).
Another issue affecting recruitment and retention is how the public views teaching. The media are not always fair and kind, especially when it comes to the nonsensical school league tables.
In particular, we know we face challenges in recruiting black and minority ethnic teachers. The profession is not diverse enough, and non-white pupils and families do not see themselves reflected in many school staff groups.
Finally, an emerging problem is that the world has moved on. Working conditions for many roles have been transformed post-pandemic to recognise the absolute importance of staff wellbeing. Flexibility is now commonplace in the private sector, bringing the option to choose days and patterns of work that better suit home life. Working from home reduces travel time and costs, and it can increase productivity and wellbeing. But the teaching profession is struggling to catch up: the school day in 2023 will still pretty much look like it did in 2019.
So, how can the profession compete? Every part of the system must play its part, must listen to the needs of teachers, and then make decisions at the highest level that improve circumstances on the ground.
We need better, modernised, working terms and conditions that attract and retain the brightest and best from every background. Schools are the hubs of their community, so resources must to be targeted there to provide the supports and interventions needed by our young people and families. And we need to talk up the job and focus on the positives, of which there are plenty.
Every day, teachers make a positive difference in the lives of their pupils - improving their present and their future. Teaching is one of the most important jobs in the world, so let’s treat it that way. The costs of not doing so are unthinkable.
Billy Burke is headteacher at Renfrew High School and a former president of School Leaders Scotland
