Urgent action needed to ease teacher workload in Wales
Growing pressure on Wales’s teaching workforce is threatening schools’ ability to recruit and retain staff, according to a new Senedd report
Growing pressure on Wales’s teaching workforce is threatening schools’ ability to recruit and retain staff, according to a new Senedd report.
The report highlights that while teachers remain deeply committed to their learners, workload, behaviour challenges and administrative burdens are putting many under pressure.
The inquiry found that teachers continue to change young people’s lives every day, and the impact they have lasts long after a child has left the classroom.
"Rising expectations and reform fatigue are making it increasingly difficult for teachers to do the job they love"
Despite this dedication, the Committee heard that rising expectations and reform fatigue are making it increasingly difficult for teachers 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.
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 underlines that teaching remains a rewarding and impactful profession, rooted in relationships that shape young people long after they leave the classroom.
Responding to the report, the Welsh Government says: “Along with countries across the world, Wales is facing issues in recruitment and retention, and concerns around the wellbeing of teachers, school leaders, and support staff.
"We continue to work with the teaching profession and partners as we develop our Strategic Education Workforce Plan, which will be published in March.
“We are also making significant progress in tackling staff workload and have increased teachers’ pay by 4% for 2025/26. We hope these steps will help to improve teacher retention."