MO Owen taught in Bradford for over 30 years before the everyday stresses of the job caused him to re-evaluate his profession and leave teaching in his mid 50s.

Mr Owen taught in primary schools across the district, including an inner city Bradford school, but after increasing pressure to reach what he felt were unrealistic government targets led to the job becoming too stressful, he took early retirement three years ago, aged 56, and now works as a self employed handyman.

Two thirds of Bradford teachers 'ready to quit in next year'

He said: "I was happy teaching and working with children. Schools became too exam based, there was just this push to pass exams, you had to achieve that no matter what.

"The government kept raising targets above what was achievable, so you felt like you were going to fail before you started. You were put under the microscope.

"I ran a lot of after school clubs, and I was getting home at 6pm and then having to start on paperwork. The work isn't appreciated.

"By the end of my career I was at the end of my tether, I wasn't sleeping, I wasn't eating, I was a walking zombie.

"You have to treat children as individuals, but the government wanted us to treat them as machines that have to produce results.

"If you look around schools now, you won't see many staff over 50, most have left.

"In the last 10 to 15 years teaching became a nightmare. What the government wanted from schools would change every year, you weren't just allowed to go in and teach any more.

"I left on a reduced retirement and I'm happy now, although I still miss the kids