Recruitment and retention crisis facing Welsh teachers, report says
Growing pressure on Wales’s teaching workforce is threatening schools’ ability to recruit and retain staff, according to a new Senedd report.
Challenging pupil behaviour, increasing workload, reform fatigue, and expectations on schools to “shoulder responsibilities that sit far beyond teaching and learning” are some of the biggest factors affecting the profession, the Senedd’s Children, Young People and Education Committee found.
The new report, released after a Committee inquiry, highlights that while teachers remain deeply committed to their learners, it has become increasingly difficult for them to do the job they love.
Chair of the Senedd’s Children, Young People and Education Committee, Buffy Williams MS, said: “Teachers go above and beyond for learners every day, but the pressures they face are becoming increasingly unsustainable.
“Our inquiry makes clear that workload, behaviour challenges and reform fatigue are driving too many out of the profession they love.
“We now need urgent, practical action from the Welsh Government to ease these pressures and help build a workforce that feels valued, supported and able to thrive.”
Key recommendations
The Committee is calling on Welsh Government to take immediate, practical steps to reduce pressure on staff and make the profession more attractive, including:
Allowing Planning, Preparation and Assessment (PPA) time to be taken off‑site: Many teachers report that uninterrupted planning time is impossible within the school environment. Enabling off‑site PPA would give teachers greater flexibility and improved work–life balance.
Issuing clear, national behaviour guidance: Behaviour challenges were repeatedly highlighted as a major driver of stress and workload. Consistent guidance across Wales would support both teachers and school leaders in managing these pressures.
Removing barriers to entering the profession: This includes addressing obstacles faced by Welsh speaking teachers and those trained in England, and re-examining the current 50% degree relevance rule, which is limiting supply in shortage subjects.
Despite challenges, teachers remain extraordinarily committed
The Committee emphasised the strength, passion and resilience shown by teachers across Wales. Inquiry evidence showed that despite intense pressures, staff ‘continue to go above and beyond for their learners.’
The report concluded that teaching remains a rewarding and impactful profession, rooted in relationships that shape young people long after they leave the classroom.
An opportunity for change
With the Welsh Government developing its new Strategic Education Workforce Plan, the Committee says now is the moment to tackle long‑standing challenges and build a workforce that feels valued, supported and able to deliver the high‑quality education every learner deserves.
Read the full report here: Teacher Recruitment and Retention
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