Responding to news that the number of teachers in England’s state school system fell by 10,000, and the number of teaching assistants by more than 6,000 in the year to November, Stephen Twigg MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary said:
“It will be of real concern to parents that teachers are leaving or being removed from the profession in droves.
“School budgets are being cut by the biggest amount since the 1950s. This is a triple whammy – fewer people are being attracted into the profession, the Government is cutting teacher training places and more are leaving. When Labour were in Government, the numbers of teachers increased by more than 42,000.
“Michael Gove has lambasted teachers as the “enemies of promise” and “whingers”. If you insult teachers, it is no wonder they quit.
“Of course we need to raise standards, but we can only do that by taking the profession with you, not insulting them.
“Teachers are the key to unlocking the potential of children and young people. If we cannot convince teachers to stay in the profession, then we will not make progress to raise the quality of learning.”
