Here are the main findings from our exclusive YouGov findings into teachers’ views on their working lives.

*84 per cent think their profession not valued by society

*Nearly half (46 per cent) of teachers say morale has declined in last year

*38 per cent have low morale

*83 per cent of teachers are stressed by their jobs, for an array of reasons

*32 per cent say they are “very stressed”

*58 per cent of teachers say they are not paid a fair salary for the job they do

*40 per cent are likely to leave profession within the next five years

*49 per cent are pessimistic about future pupil achievement and only 27 per cent optimistic

*Despite all this 58 per cent are satisfied with their jobs

*But more than a third - 37 per cent- are dissatisfied

Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “Teaching is one of the best professions in the world so it is no surprise that there is a high level of satisfaction with the job.

“The problem arises not from the job itself but from government imposed factors such as low pay and assessment and accountability measures that have little or nothing to do with teaching or learning.

“They are resulting in workloads that are unsustainable over the long term hence the high levels of stress and numbers of teachers who are considering leaving the profession.”

Mike Parker, director of Schools NorthEast, said: “Teaching isn’t a job it’s a vocation. There is something within teachers that means doing this job pulls at their heart strings. It appeals to their moral compass.

“They get job satisfaction because they see it is a vocation, shaping and nurturing children to be their best selves.

“But I think this is also the reason why teachers are unhappy.  If they are in a situation where they feel like they are teaching to the test, or feel like they are teaching within a too rigid system of accountability then this takes away from some of that moral purpose.”