The teaching profession is at a pivotal juncture.

People feel they are giving their all in primary and secondary teaching jobs and are not being backed by the government. Issues with pay reforms and dwindling pension funds have resulted in unions calling for strike action, the latest bout of which occurred just last month. 

It is important that the government and union stand-off is resolved soon and not just for the current generation of teachers.

Lasting damage

Public slurs from the likes of Michael Gove and other ministers, including the business secretary Vince Cable, could put off future talent from joining the industry. This is the opinion of specialist education recruitment company TLTP Education, which believes the political posturing will only add to the issues the UK's schools system will have in the future with ensuring its vacancies are filled.

Darryl Mydat, director at TLTP Education, explained the discontent in the teaching industry could have a much larger impact than the government realises.

"There is no doubt that teachers feel genuinely concerned and aggrieved at the impact that new policies are having on them and the profession. We hear all the time a sense of desperation that nobody will properly consult with them or genuinely listen to their concerns. They feel demoralised and worn down," he said.

TLTP's own research has found that nine out of ten teachers feel their job has been made harder by government policies in the past year, while at the moment, 80 per cent would not automatically recommend teaching as a career to family members or friends.

This hardship coupled with public slurs from influential figures will only have a long-term negative impact on teacher recruitment, which is in the midst of its own problems. The latest figures show that an estimated three-quarters of local education authorities in England now have a teacher shortage.

Mr Mydat added: "We have people asking us why they should consider a profession where stress levels are already among the highest of any profession in the UK especially if they are going to be a subject of attack through the media as well."

What can be done?

The most immediate course of action is to bring an end to [the] stand-off. The government must soon see the dispute is causing incredible amounts of harm to the future of the country. Indeed, the damage being inflicted is on a much larger scale to the perceived benefits its reforms hope to achieve.

In order to have a world-class education system in the future - the aim of the current coalition policy makers - an influx of pride is needed. Teachers need to be motivated to do their jobs. Creating a profession that has a positive vibe should be the government's immediate aim. This will be informed by listening to and acting on the concerns of the current generation of teachers.  

"At some point government has to see that there is a longer term negative impact in trying to beat the profession into submission. You have to combine the drive to improve standards of education, which everyone would support, with a more hands-on level of support and understanding for the needs of teachers to achieve balance in their working lives," explains the TLTP director.

With the creation of happy classrooms and content staff rooms, there will be no shortage of people looking to join the profession. Not only will this immediately solve the upcoming skills shortage that schools face, but it will help reposition the role of teacher in society. If high-level graduates are attracted to teaching, society and eventually pupils will learn to respect teachers once more for the hard work they performing, making it easier for them to deliver world-leading exam results.

The pivotal juncture the profession finds itself in is a starting point. It is up to the coalition to decide whether it is the start of a cycle of strikes, teacher shortages and poor results or the start of collaboration, respect and a reinvigorated schools system.