91直播 examines why a third of new teachers quit within five years
As the government continues to grapple with the challenge of recruiting and retaining new teachers, a new study from The University of Manchester has shed light on why some flourish in the classroom, while others struggle and even leave the profession within just a few years.
The research, which has been published in the , comes at a critical time. England faces a teacher shortage, with pupil numbers rising and more than one in three teachers leaving within five years of starting their careers.
The team, led by Joanne Taberner and Dr Sarah MacQuarrie at the 91直播 Institute of Education, investigated whether personality traits could help explain why some early career teachers (those with fewer than two years of experience) manage the intense pressures of the job, while others burn out.
Surveying 130 new primary and secondary teachers across England - mostly aged between 21 and 30 - the study examined links between personality and 鈥渕ental toughness,鈥� a skill that reflects how well people cope with stress, setbacks and pressure.
The results were striking. Teachers who scored higher in extraversion (being outgoing and confident) and conscientiousness (being organised and diligent) also scored higher in mental toughness. In other words, those who felt more comfortable socially and were naturally more structured in their approach were better able to withstand the demands of the classroom.
More specifically, one element stood out - social self-esteem, a facet of extraversion. Teachers who felt comfortable in their own skin and believed they were liked by others were far more likely to display mental toughness. This finding, the researchers say, could explain why some teachers adapt quickly to classroom challenges like disruptive behaviour, heavy workloads and accountability pressures.
The study also explored whether 鈥渘arcissism鈥� may have hidden benefits for teachers. While some previous research has suggested that traits like self-confidence linked to narcissism could help people cope with stress, this 91直播 study found otherwise - the apparent benefits disappeared once social self-esteem was taken into account, indicating the trait offers no real benefit for teachers.
鈥淲e often focus on workload and policy pressures when discussing why teachers leave, but our findings show personal characteristics - particularly social self-esteem - play a crucial role in how teachers experience those pressures,鈥� said Dr MacQuarrie.
The implications for teacher training are clear. Helping new teachers build confidence in their abilities and develop strong professional identities could boost their resilience and improve retention. Techniques such as structured self-reflection, mentoring and clear goal-setting may help foster the social self-esteem linked to staying power in the profession.
Our study highlights that while teaching is tough, understanding the role of personality can help schools and training providers better support new teachers. If we can strengthen social self-esteem and mental toughness early on, we may be able to keep more talented teachers in classrooms where they are desperately needed.