A word from our CEO

One of the clearest themes we've seen this year is an increased focus on retention and wellbeing. Rising pupil needs, growing expectations, workload pressures, and the ongoing challenge of maintaining a healthy work-life balance continue to shape everyday life in schools across the country. 

Through conversations with thousands of educators, it's evident that attracting people into teaching is only part of the solution. Creating environments where you feel supported, valued, and able to develop professionally is equally important. The schools that are having the greatest success are often those prioritising staff wellbeing, meaningful development opportunities and sustainable workloads alongside pupil outcomes. 

Looking ahead, the anticipated SEND reform consultation is likely to be one of the most significant areas of discussion across the sector. While the final details are still to emerge, it's clear that supporting pupils with additional needs will remain a key priority for schools. For educators like you, this will place an even greater emphasis on professional development, specialist knowledge, and confidence in meeting diverse learner needs. 

As the sector continues to evolve, ensuring you have access to the right support and training is essential. We've remained committed to helping our candidates succeed at every stage through high-quality CPD with The National College, opportunities to gain valuable classroom experience through our Graduate Scheme, and sharing insight into the challenges facing the profession in our flagship research report. 

As the academic year comes to a close, I want to thank you for the dedication, resilience and care you have shown throughout the year. Your commitment continues to make an extraordinary difference to the lives of pupils every day. We are proud to support you and look forward to working alongside you in the year ahead. 

Nick Murphy, CEO