Science teachers ‘more likely to quit than those in other subjects’
SCIENCE TEACHERS are more likely to switch schools and to leave the profession than their colleagues teaching other subjects, according to research.
A new study suggests that the chances of science teachers leaving within five years are significantly greater, with those at the start of their careers more likely to go.
The findings come amid continuing concerns about teacher shortages in England’s state schools, particularly in key subjects such as physics.
The study, commissioned by Wellcome, found the odds of science teachers leaving their school – either to teach elsewhere or quitting the classroom entirely – within five years are 26 per cent higher than for similar teachers of other subjects.
Among newly qualified teachers (NQTs) alone, the odds of them leaving their first school within five years are 35 per cent higher compared to their fellow new colleagues. In addition, the chances of a science NQT with a physics or engineering degree leaving are 87 per cent higher than for similar NQTs teaching other subjects.
The study uses government data to analyse science teacher retention rates in England’s statefunded secondary schools. More analysis solely on teachers leaving the profession entirely shows that the odds of science teachers quitting within five years are five per cent higher, and for newly qualified teachers of the subject, the odds are 20 per cent higher than similar peers.
Study author Dr Rebecca Allen of Education Datalab said there are more factors that could encourage science teachers to leave the profession, particularly at the start of their careers, such as the fact they could earn more with the degrees they have in other industries.
“The start of a school career is really tough for anybody, and science teachers have greater opportunities outside of teaching,” she said.
“They are more likely to walk away simply because they have more chances to walk away.”