Longer Hours For Teachers?

Teachers' unions have warned that excessive workload deters people from staying in teaching.

17:04 25 November 2015

The Education at a Glance report has found that when compared to other developed countries, teachers in England and Scotland have more teaching hours and bigger primary classes.

 

The report also shows that students in England attending public higher education institutions pay the highest tuition fees

 

How UK education compares:

 

•    High levels of early years enrolment, with 97per cent of three-year-olds in pre-school

•    42per cent enter higher education (OECD average is 34per cent)

•    Graduates earn 54per cent more than non-graduates

•    Primary and secondary spending per student is above average

•    Teacher-pupil ratio is 1:21 in primary (average is 1:15)

•    Teacher’s pay declined in real-terms between 2005 and 2013

 

The report highlights that several countries are having a difficulty recruiting teachers as they earn 22per cent less when compared to other workers who have the same qualifications.

 

"These uncompetitive salaries will make it harder to attract the best candidates to the teaching profession," says the report.

 

A spokesman for the Department for Education said the report recognised "above average funding" for education in England.

 

"Great teachers are at the heart of this government's commitment to delivering educational excellence everywhere," he said.

 

"This is why we are not only tackling excessive teacher workload but have also given head teachers the freedom to pay good teachers more, meaning the best teachers can access greater rewards earlier in their careers."