A SURVEY of teachers in the Bradford district has revealed the shocking fact that more than two thirds are ‘likely’ to leave their jobs at some point in the next 12 months.

It is alarming that so many in the profession feel this way about their chosen career, and it cannot have anything but a detrimental effect on the quality of teaching.

But what teachers need is not blame for the way standards have fallen, but support to tackle the immensely difficult problems they face, particularly in inner-city schools.

There are serious challenges facing teachers across the country, including excessive workload, pupils’ behaviour, grade expectations and constant monitoring.

TWO THIRDS OF BRADFORD TEACHERS 'LIKELY' TO LEAVE THEIR SCHOOL IN THE NEXT YEAR

This district, though, faces its own particular difficulties with the multicultural mix of the population meaning a huge spread of languages and cultures in the classrooms, and in many instances, pupils who are new to English.

Four years ago, we decided to try and counter some of the constant negative publicity for schools and their staff by launching the T&A Schools Awards, an event to celebrate the huge amount of great work that is being done day-in day-out in education.

We need the best possible teachers to give our children the best possible chance of success – not just in exams but in becoming the kind of well-rounded individuals that inspirational teachers can help them to be.

Rather than subjecting them to constant criticism or pressure, we need to support and nurture our teachers or we face a massive talent drain from our schools which will leave the district’s education system in tatters.