Description
Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate qualitative accounts of secondary school teachers about factors contributing to decisions to stay or leave teaching.Design: Qualitative methods were used with data being analysed thematically.
Methods: Eleven in depth, semi-structured interviews were carried out on a purposive sample of teachers from three categories: early career teachers, established teachers, and those who had left or were in the process of leaving the profession.
Results: The analysis showed that teachers in all the career stages felt a strong sense of calling to teach and wanted to craft their work to fulfil their calling to the maximum. This required autonomy to focus on the educational welfare of students, the ability to develop their subject passion, and nurture collegial relationships. However, top-down directives, poor resourcing, bureaucracy, and accountability frustrated their ability to craft their work and so prevented the fulfilment of their sense of calling. This, in turn, led to a reduction in teacher retention.
Conclusion: Teachers should be given more autonomy to develop calling as a work orientation. This would provide for an improved student experience and, importantly, increase teacher retention.
| Period | 11 Sept 2024 |
|---|---|
| Event title | British Psychological Society Psychology of Education Section Conference 2024: Supporting Learners and Supporting Learning |
| Event type | Conference |
| Location | Cambridge, United KingdomShow on map |
| Degree of Recognition | National |