Date Published: June 2, 2025
Teaching has long been celebrated as a vocation that shapes the future. From sparking curiosity in young minds to instilling lifelong values, educators play a vital role in society. However, recent years have highlighted a concerning trend—teachers are leaving the profession at an alarming rate. With retention falling and stress rising, school leaders are left asking the same question: why are so many teachers quitting, and what can we do about it?
The answer is complex, but many of the driving factors point to a growing sense of overwhelm, a lack of support, and an urgent need for change in how we approach both classroom management and teacher wellbeing.
Why Are Teachers Leaving the Profession?
While each teacher’s journey is unique, there are several common challenges that push educators out of the classroom:
1. Burnout
Teaching is far more than a 9-to-5 job. Marking, lesson planning, parent meetings, extracurriculars, and administrative tasks stretch well beyond school hours. Over time, this pressure can lead to burnout—a state of chronic physical and emotional exhaustion. The result? Passionate, talented teachers feel drained, demoralised, and ready to leave.
2. Low Pay
Despite their central role in shaping society, many teachers feel undervalued—particularly when it comes to pay. The financial strain is especially tough for early career teachers who are still developing professionally while trying to make ends meet in an increasingly expensive world.
3. Behaviour Challenges
Managing classroom behaviour has become a growing issue across UK schools. Without adequate training or consistent support, teachers are left to handle disruptive behaviour on their own. This not only affects learning outcomes but also contributes heavily to teacher stress and dissatisfaction.
4. Lack of Support
Many educators feel isolated, particularly when it comes to addressing complex student needs or adapting to curriculum changes. Whether it’s the absence of mentorship, limited CPD opportunities, or insufficient resources, a lack of support leads to frustration and feelings of helplessness.
5. High-Stakes Accountability
The pressure to meet performance targets, track data and prepare students for standardised assessments creates an intense atmosphere. These expectations can overshadow the joy of teaching and reduce the scope for creativity in the classroom.
6. Emotional Toll
Educators often witness the impact of poverty, trauma, bullying and mental health issues in their pupils. Supporting students in distress without sufficient training or emotional resources takes a heavy toll. Over time, it can lead to compassion fatigue—a form of emotional burnout unique to caring professions.
The Link Between Classroom Management and Teacher Retention
One of the most consistent stressors mentioned by teachers is poor classroom behaviour. From low-level disruption to more serious challenges, misbehaviour undermines both student outcomes and teacher confidence. When teachers feel they’re constantly firefighting behaviour issues, it becomes difficult to focus on high-quality teaching.
But classroom management isn’t just about enforcing rules—it’s about creating a positive learning environment where mutual respect, consistency, and emotional regulation are central. This is where Social Emotional Learning (SEL) can make a significant difference.
How Social Emotional Learning Supports Teachers and Pupils
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is an educational approach that helps students (and teachers) develop skills in self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship-building, and responsible decision-making.
While often viewed as a strategy to improve student wellbeing, SEL also directly supports teachers by:
1. Improving Behaviour in the Classroom
When pupils learn to manage their emotions, resolve conflicts, and empathise with others, behavioural incidents decrease. This shift makes classroom management more proactive and less reactive, allowing teachers to focus on teaching rather than discipline.
2. Building Stronger Relationships
Positive teacher-student relationships are a cornerstone of effective teaching. SEL fosters empathy and communication, helping educators connect more deeply with their pupils. This leads to greater trust, better engagement, and a more inclusive learning environment.
3. Supporting Teacher Wellbeing
SEL isn’t just for students. When schools embrace SEL as a whole-school strategy, teachers are encouraged to reflect on their own emotional wellbeing, build resilience, and practise self-care. This not only supports mental health but helps teachers rediscover joy and purpose in their work.
4. Reducing Stress and Burnout
By embedding emotional intelligence into everyday teaching practice, educators become better equipped to manage stress, navigate challenges, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. SEL offers practical strategies for dealing with difficult moments both in and out of the classroom.
5. Creating a Positive School Culture
A school that embraces SEL nurtures a sense of community. When students and staff feel seen, heard and supported, morale improves across the board. This type of environment reduces turnover, increases teacher satisfaction, and contributes to stronger school outcomes.
Practical Steps for Introducing SEL and Behaviour Support
Implementing SEL might sound overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Schools can start small, embedding key skills and values gradually across lessons, routines and interactions.
Here are a few practical ideas:
- Integrate SEL into the curriculum: Embed discussion of emotions, empathy and decision-making into existing subjects like English, PSHE, or even science.
- Model SEL skills: Teachers and senior leaders can model emotional regulation, respectful communication and empathy in everyday interactions.
- Provide training and CPD: Give staff time and space to learn about SEL approaches and how to integrate them into behaviour management strategies.
- Use data to guide support: Identify key areas of need—whether it’s emotional regulation or peer relationships—and tailor interventions accordingly.
How Satchel Pulse Can Help
If your school is looking for a structured, effective way to implement Social Emotional Learning and improve classroom behaviour, Satchel Pulse’s Skills tool offers a comprehensive, easy-to-use solution.
Skills is designed to help schools:
- Assess student SEL competencies through simple, insightful surveys
- Provide targeted, evidence-based interventions
- Monitor progress and impact over time
- Reduce disruption, improve engagement, and boost overall wellbeing
It’s cost-effective, quick to implement, and provides real-time data to support ongoing improvements.
Final Thoughts
The teaching profession is at a crossroads. While the challenges are significant, they are not insurmountable. By reimagining behaviour support and prioritising emotional development for both pupils and staff, schools can create a more sustainable teaching environment.
Social Emotional Learning is not a silver bullet, but it is a powerful tool—one that supports classroom management, reduces burnout, and helps teachers thrive. If we want to retain passionate educators and create positive, resilient learning communities, then SEL must become a central part of the conversation.
Author: Hope Marvin
