National Foundation for Educational Research

What helps to improve teacher retention? This new research explores the factors associated with the leaving decisions of teachers, to understand in greater detail what actions policymakers might take to further improve teacher retention rate...

The research, funded by @nuffieldfoundation.org, has also found that school leadership support, pupil behaviour, manager support and workload perceptions are key factors associated with job satisfaction and wellbeing.

Find out more 👉 bit.ly/4tWhBv9

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Table highlighting the factors associated with considering to leave the teaching profession.

New analysis of the DfEs Working Lives of Teachers and Leaders Survey has found that job satisfaction, wellbeing and school leadership support are key factors when teachers consider whether to leave the profession.

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Study reveals the secrets to keeping teachers teaching - SecEd New NFER research shows behaviour support, balanced planning and strong leadership reduce teacher turnover

Why are #teachers quitting? Findings from @thenfer.bsky.social @jackworth.bsky.social highlight worsening behaviour, lesson planning pressures & low pay satisfaction as key factors, but also how CPD impact & strong leadership can keep teachers #teaching. Full findings here: buff.ly/SVk2Kh6 #schools

“Teacher retention remains a crucial issue for education policy. Even small improvements can have a major impact on teacher supply by reducing vacancies and the pressure on initial teacher training recruitment. Improving teacher supply, particularly in secondary schools where recruitment and retention challenges are most prevalent, can ensure pupils receive the high-quality education they deserve." Jack Worth Education Workforce Lead

🗣️ "Even small improvements can have a major impact on teacher supply by reducing vacancies and the pressure on initial teacher training recruitment."

@jackworth.bsky.social has given his reaction to our latest teacher retention research.

Learn more 👉 www.nfer.ac.uk/press-releas...

Teachers facing worse behaviour more likely to quit, study finds New NFER analysis raises concerns about the impact of behaviour on staff retention rates in schools around England

Worsening pupil behaviour is playing a significant role in teachers deciding to quit the profession, finds new study from @thenfer.bsky.social

New research report - What helps to improve teacher retention?

New Nuffield Foundation funded analysis shows that growing time spent dealing with pupil behaviour and providing pastoral support plays a significant role in teachers choosing to leave the profession.

Learn more 👉 bit.ly/4rjoxkg

🔔 Tomorrow, we will be publishing new research which will explore what leads to teachers leaving the profession, as well as well as the factors that are most associated with teacher job satisfaction and retention.

Keep a look out for updates on our website and our social media channels.

We are co-hosting a free webinar tomorrow, which will look into research from our recent #Skills2035 Programme & discuss how the tertiary education system can best prepare young people for the future of work.

📆 11 February
⏰ 16:00 - 17:00

Find out more and register 👉 www.nfer.ac.uk/events/the-t...

Turning risk into opportunity: Reskilling workers in a changing economy - Learning and Work Institute This webinar will present research from NFER’s The Skills Imperative 2035 programme and consider how the adult skills system can be reinvigorated to better meet the needs of people in at-risk occupati...

Just over two weeks to go until our webinar with @thenfer.bsky.social! 📺

This webinar on Tuesday 24 February will present research from NFER's #Skills2035 programme to consider how the adult skills system can better meet the needs of people in at-risk occupations.

Register now. ⬇️

Securing success from start to finish – investigating factors associated with apprenticeship withdrawal This report, funded by The Gatsby Foundation, provides new quantitative evidence into the factors associated with apprenticeship withdrawal.

We recently conducted research exploring the factors associated with apprenticeship withdrawal, which has fallen over the past two academic years, but is still higher than the start of the 2010s.

Find out more 👉 bit.ly/4qc6BGJ

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This week is #NationalApprenticeshipWeek, highlighting once again its importance as a key training route for young people.

Learn more at naw.appawards.co.uk/

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You can now watch the recording of this free #Skills2035 webinar back on our website 👉 www.nfer.ac.uk/events/what-...

Taking place very shortly! 👇

We are co-hosting a free webinar, which will look into our recent #Skills2035 Programme and discuss practical approaches, models & tools schools can use to prepare students with essential employment skills.

📆 4th February
⏰ 16:30 - 17:30

Find out more and register 👉 www.nfer.ac.uk/events/what-...

We are co-hosting a free webinar, which will look into research from our recent #Skills2035 Programme and discuss how the tertiary education system can best prepare young people for the future of work.

📆 11 February
⏰ 16:00 - 17:00

Find out more and register 👉 www.nfer.ac.uk/events/the-t...

📫 The first edition of NFER Direct for 2026 has now been sent to subscribers.

For the latest news and commentary from our research experts, plus details of upcoming work and our international work, visit bit.ly/2MyAIsP to subscribe.

Securing success from start to finish – investigating factors associated with apprenticeship withdrawal This report, funded by The Gatsby Foundation, provides new quantitative evidence into the factors associated with apprenticeship withdrawal.

The new research, funded by @gatsbyed.bsky.social, provides new quantitative evidence into the factors associated with apprenticeship withdrawal.

Find out more 👉 bit.ly/4qc6BGJ

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“Young people who already face the greatest barriers in education and employment – such as those from disadvantaged backgrounds are most likely to struggle to complete their apprenticeships. “We need to ensure disadvantaged apprentices receive earlier, more targeted support - not just during training, but right from the point they start considering an apprenticeship pathway.” Jude Hillary Co-Head of Policy and Practice

🗣️ “Young people who already face the greatest barriers in education & employment, such as those from disadvantaged backgrounds, are most likely to struggle to complete apprenticeships.”

Our Co-Head of Policy & Practice, Jude Hillary, reacts to our new apprenticeship withdrawals research.

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🆕 | Our latest research (funded by @gatsbyed.bsky.social) has showcased the switch from apprenticeship frameworks to standards is a key factor in explaining the substantial decline in the apprenticeship achievement rate over the last decade. 👇

Find out more 👉 nfer.ac.uk/publications...

Sign up for NFER Direct by visiting http://bit.ly/2MyAIsP

📩 The first edition of our NFER Direct newsletter for 2026 will be published later this week.

For a summary of the latest news and commentary from our research experts, plus details of upcoming events, visit bit.ly/2MyAIsP to subscribe.

Find out more about this and our latest research, funded by @gatsbyed.bsky.social, looking at apprenticeship withdrawals 👉 www.nfer.ac.uk/publications... [3/3]

This remains a long way short of the start of the 2010s, when over 70% of apprentices typically completed within the scheduled timeframe. [2/3]

Our new research shows that 61% of apprentices who were scheduled to achieve their apprenticeship in the 2023/24 academic year did so, an increase of 6% from the previous year. 🧵 [1/3]

🆕 | New research, funded by Gatsby Education, has highlighted that disadvantaged apprentices are significantly more likely to withdraw from their apprenticeship programmes.

Find out more 👉 www.nfer.ac.uk/press...

We will be launching new research tomorrow, funded by @gatsbyed.bsky.social, which investigates factors associated with apprenticeship withdrawal.

Stay tuned to our social media channels and website for updates. 🔜

The supply of secondary teachers ‘will fall after next year’ The pipeline of new secondary teachers will increase in the short term but drop off in 2027-28 and beyond, NFER analysis suggests

The pipeline of new secondary school teachers will shrink after next year, following a short-term gain in numbers, @thenfer.bsky.social analysis suggests

✍️ | In a new blog, @jackworth.bsky.social uses insights from our redeveloped teacher supply forecast and simulation model to look at what the implications of different STRB recommendations might be for teacher recruitment and retention trends.

Read more 👉 www.nfer.ac.uk/blogs/what-s...

👋 Calling all Teachers and School leaders! 💻

Tomorrow (21 Jan) is our first free NFER Online Assessments (NOA) Demonstration webinar of 2026. 🐼

The short session will provide an introduction to the NOA platform, and much more.

⏰ 10:00am

Find out more and sign up 👉 www.nfer.ac.uk/events/nfer-...

Year 8 diagnostic tests: Making them worthwhile - SecEd The DfE is planning diagnostic statutory year 8 English and maths tests. Explore the challenges of effective assessment

Statutory year 8 English & maths tests will be part of the #curriculum reforms, but should it screen or diagnose? David Simcock – @thenfer.bsky.social – on why diagnostic assessment matters, plus practical insights on CATs & reporting: buff.ly/AKf5gjx #schools #education #teaching #edusky

New blog post - Year 8 diagnostic tests: let's make them worthwhile

In our latest blog post, first published in @teachsecondary.bsky.social and @headteacherupdate.bsky.social, Assessment Expert, David Simcock discusses the forthcoming diagnostic Maths and English tests in Year 8 and what they might look like.

Read the post 👉 bit.ly/4a0zVLk