“My life is not just about producing results for the school I work in; it’s about so much more. Until the UK government realises that all teachers need a good work-life balance, we are better off out of here.”
These are the words of this week’s Secret Teacher who is fleeing Britain to teach in the Middle East, escaping Ofsted, endless marking and constant curriculum changes.
This evoked an enormous response. One teacher said: “How long will it take this government to realise that something must change in order to keep those trained specifically for teaching in post? The profession has been undermined for long enough.”
Another commenter talked about the teachers planning on following suit: “I know loads of teachers, and just about any of them could have written this. They feel the same, and some have left already.”
But the grass may not be greener on the other side. A teacher with experience abroad said there are advantages and disadvantages to making the move – but don’t expect smaller workloads. “You’ll get more duties, more parents evenings, more reports ... and, worst of all, [have to do] lots of cover.”
Another teacher added that a decent work-life balance in Britain is achievable. “I try my best to embrace social occasions and time away from books and data,” they said.
We want to take this debate further; gathering more evidence on how teachers feel. If you currently work in a UK school, have you thought about teaching abroad and why? What makes other education systems appealing? Answer our poll and share thoughts in the comments, email us or tweet @GuardianTeach.
