Once a Teacher Always a Teacher? Encouraging Return to Teaching.

One approach to the crisis in the supply of teachers in Britain is to attract back to the profession qualified teachers who have left. To know whether this approach is viable, however, it is important to know about the reasons for leaving teaching and factors affecting return. Therefore, a study was conducted to survey trained teachers not currently in full-time employment, to ask why they had left teaching, whether they were likely to return to the classroom, and what measures would encourage them to do so. The study is reported in this document, which is organized into four sections. The first, "Returning to Teaching," presents key findings and their implications. Section 2, "Why Teachers Leave Teaching," discusses child care and domestic commitments, personal circumstances, disillusionment with school teaching, failure to obtain a permanent position, and career change. The third section, "Barriers to Returning," addresses whether the leavers want to return; what prevents teachers from returning; difficulties in getting an appropriate position whether it be part-time, a job share, full time, or substitute teaching; and worries about the educational system and conditions in schools. The final section, "What Employers Might Do," includes keeping in touch with teachers, informing about vacancies, a reintroduction to teaching, support for returners, managed career breaks, salaries commensurate with experience, and child care. The research design and methods and a profile of the sample are appended. Five tables complete the document. (LL)