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Teaching profession receives public confidence boost

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11 September 2001

The public standing of teachers, and that of other public servants, is higher than most private sector occupations, according to a survey commissioned by the Institute for Public Policy Research (ippr), Britain’s leading progressive think tank.

When asked ‘How much status do you think the following professions have in society today?’ respondents gave the following average scores (rounded to the nearest 0.1):

Doctor 8.2
Nurse 7.7
Teacher 7.1
Lawyer 7.0
Architect 6.3
Banker 6.3
Computer consultant 6.2
Management consultant 5.9
Social worker 5.7
Politician 5.5
Website designer 5.4
Journalist 5.0

ICM Research interviewed a random selection of 1002 adults aged 18+ by telephone between 24-26 August 2001 asking them to rank on status according to a ten point scale, with ten being the highest rating. Interviews were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults.

Yet, although teaching is recognised as a top 3 ranking occupation according to status, the survey findings provide evidence of the problems facing the profession in terms of the image it has amongst young adults. Being a lawyer or a doctor was seen to have more status among the youngest age group of 18 to 24 years than being a teacher.

There is further evidence that the status of teachers is declining through the generations. While 58 per cent of over 65 year olds ranked teacher status at 8 or above, only 40 per cent of 18 to 24 year olds and 44 per cent of 25 to 34 year olds did so.

The survey findings also suggest that teacher status is weaker among the ABC1s, with just over 50 per cent of C2DEs rating teacher status at eight, nine or ten compared with just over 40 per cent of ABC1s giving equivalent ratings.

Commenting on these results, Joe Hallgarten, Senior Research Fellow at the ippr, said:
‘These results show that in spite of deep concerns about public services, the standing of public servants remains high. However, perceptions about low status is still a major barrier to recruiting, retaining and motivating enough teachers. Teacher status can be transformed, not only through the actions of governments and schools, but through the participation and engagement of individuals and communities.’

These issues and others, will be discussed at today’s conference:

TRANSFORMING TEACHER STATUS: THE FUTURE OF THE TEACHING PROFESSION
TUESDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER 2001:
10:15am -4:15PM
University of Westminster, 309 Regent Street, London W1 2UW

This conference, organised by ippr and the General Teaching Council for England, will explore the significance of teacher status, and discuss how the status of teaching as a profession can be raised.

Dr Jonathan Sacks, The Chief Rabbi, will make a keynote speech on teachers, teaching and communities.
Carol Adams, Chief Executive of the General Teaching Council will speak to the Conference on professional transformation.
David Haselkorn of Recruiting New Teachers Inc (USA) will compare the situation in the UK with the USA.

Also speaking at the Conference will be:

Trevor Phillips, GLA
Julia Cleverdon, Business in the Community
Chris Yapp, ICL
Mike Baker, BBC
Julia Middleton, Common Purpose
Geoff Lennox, Protocol
Graham Lane, LGA
Matthew Taylor, ippr
Anthony Breslin, Citizenship Foundation
Philippa Cordingley, CUREE

Ends.

For press accreditation or for further information about the survey, or ippr’s project on The Future of the Teaching Profession, please contact:
Apricot Hulse, ippr Press Officer: 020 7470 6120 / 0777 3960391
Joe Hallgarten: 0207 470 0024 / 07946 381 576 / j.hallgarten@ippr.org.uk.

Notes for Editors:
1. The Institute for Public Policy Research (ippr) is Britain’s leading independent think tank. Its purpose is to contribute to a better public understanding of social, economic and political questions through research, discussion and publication.

2. The General Teaching Council (GTC) was established by the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998. The GTC is governed by a Council of 64 members of whom 44 are practising teachers. The Council also includes representation from other interest groups including parents. For further information on the General Teaching Council, please contact: Nick Tennant or Annabelle Chalker on 0207 841 2906 or 07949 033507/0771 363 9558.