Learning lessons
Think tank: Fabian Society
Author(s): Joe Dromey; Marcus Johns
July 13, 2026
This report from UK think tank the Fabian Society analyses the drivers of the teacher workforce crisis and the impact that it has on pupils and public finances.
Teaching is a fantastic vocation, which offers the opportunity to change lives. However, the education system is currently experiencing a retention crisis, with the number of teachers leaving the state school sector having increased in recent years.
The Labour government has made some progress in tackling the drivers of teacher attrition, particularly through real terms pay rises, reforms to inspections, and making teachers feel more valued. Yet there remain real issues around workload and stress, while pupil behaviour and the lack of flexible working opportunities are increasingly driving teachers to leave the state sector.
In this report, Joe Dromey and Marcus Johns analyse the drivers of the teacher workforce crisis and the impact that it has on pupils and public finances. The report calls for a teacher recruitment and retention strategy that tackles the drivers of attrition.
