The cost of living crisis has driven a large proportion of teachers to cook and clean clothes for their students and to provide them with key supplies, a new survey has revealed.
Commissioned by the charity Education Support, the poll found that more than a quarter (26%) of teachers in secondary state schools have prepared food for their pupils, and 41% have bought students key supplies such as stationery or school bags.
The survey of more than 1,000 teachers in secondary schools across England also revealed that 13% say they have even cleaned their students’ clothes.
Carried out by the research consultancy, Public First, the poll revealed that nearly three quarters (74%) of teachers often help pupils with personal matters beyond their academic work.
Around 72% of respondents said that they are helping pupils more with non-academic matters than they did five years ago This climbed to 82% in schools in Education Investment Areas – the educational ‘cold spots’ identified by the Department for Education for special attention as part of the levelling up agenda.
Sinéad Mc Brearty, chief executive of teacher wellbeing charity Education Support and Commissioner, said: ‘As the demands on schools increase – through austerity, the pandemic, and now the cost of living crisis – so do the demands on teachers and school leaders. They care deeply about those they teach, and year after year, they go the extra mile for their communities.
‘This comes at a real personal cost, and the signs of exhaustion and burnout continue to rise. For many, leaving the profession is a route back to health. Children and young people are short-changed by our inability to retain talented teachers.’
