40 Per Cent Drop Out

In teaching, it’s the people that matter. The best leaders, therefore, are those who can stop talented staff from bailing on the school, and the profession, says Sue Cowley...

Governments come and go. New systems are brought in and old ones discarded. Secretaries of State for Education (eventually) fall by the wayside. But over the years I have come to realise that there is one thing that really matters in teaching: the people. It is the person who works with the children who makes the difference. Get your team right – support, develop and challenge people in the right measures, according to their needs – and the rest will (mostly) slot into place.

This was a crucial lesson that Michael Gove failed to learn in his time as Secretary of State for Education: you get a lot further if you keep your staff team onside than if you rail and battle against them. This does not mean we should not challenge poor practice when we encounter it, but rather that there are ways and means. Keep the end goal in sight – happy, successful children – and there is no need for aggressive posturing. As a leader, make sure your teachers know you are there for them, that you are on their side, and that you are all working towards the same end result.

Getting (and keeping) good people is not a simple process. Effective recruitment is a vital first step – school leaders must find people who share their vision of what education should look like. Before you can recruit the right people, you need to be clear about what your vision is. It is relatively simple to measure a candidate’s academic prowess, but qualities such as dedication, enthusiasm and a liking for young people are not so easy to spot. With the choice of staff limited to those who apply for a post, schools are wise to develop new recruits, rather than looking for the mythical ‘perfect’ candidate.

Training staff is an essential investment in future success. The educational landscape changes constantly – teaching is not a job where you qualify and then stop learning. Since I came into the profession there have been countless demands on teachers to learn new skills. The Internet has brought with it exciting new opportunities, but fresh challenges as well. Some staff are nervous about new innovations so it can pay dividends to move forwards gently. The latest requirement for primary teachers to teach coding will mean a substantial investment in staff training. But where possible, base training on personal interests – for instance, using Makaton or Forest School approaches – as well as on the latest government initiatives. This helps staff achieve a sense of satisfaction from their learning.

Teaching is a collaborative activity: even though there is one teacher for each class, staff must work together to achieve a consistent ethos for the school. Time spent discussing ideas as a team, and ensuring a shared vision, is hugely valuable. Find the right ways to motivate staff – to show them that you have their best interests at heart. While we tend to be brilliant at using praise to motivate our children, we may forget to use the same method with adults. Say ‘thank you’ when someone goes the extra mile. Identify and note the positive things staff achieve, while setting them targets for future improvement. Balance your demands with an understanding of how a teacher’s home situation can affect their performance at work. In such a human profession, a person’s emotional or psychological state has a huge impact on their day-to-day work.

Retention rates in the teaching profession are shocking. Almost 40 per cent of those who enter the profession are no longer teaching after five years. The waste of talent, training and investment should be a concern to us all. A school with a settled staff team is in a better position to focus on improvements, so it benefits us to retain and develop the staff we have.

In the teaching profession, people are what matters, so you must work with them, not against them. It strikes me that someone might usefully have whispered this in Mr Gove’s ear.“Get teachers onside, help them see that you have the children’s best interests at heart, and they will do everything in their power for you. Antagonise them, or let them think for a moment that it is no longer only about the children, and you will struggle to get them to do anything for you.” Hearts and minds, Mr Gove, hearts and minds. That is the bit you forgot.

About the author

Sue Cowley is an experienced teacher, author and presenter. Her mini guide, The Seven P’s of Brilliant Voice Usage, is available on Amazon.