Pregnant Then Screwed: Work-life Balance Main Problem For Teacher Retention #PTSteachers

Taking place on social media across Instagram, Facebook and Twitter via the hashtag #PTSteachers, teachers and those interested are invited to take part by asking questions and joining in the discussion. 

Joeli Brearley, founder of Pregnant Then Screwed comments:

“The teaching profession is in turmoil, there are increasing pressures in the classroom and there are shortages on the ground. We need to do more to protect our teachers from maternity discrimination, we need to talk openly about changing the culture, and where possible make working conditions more flexible to keep talented teachers in the profession. We are hosting Pregnant Then Screwed Teachers to shed light on this issue and identify key changes so we can present them to policy makers.”

Throughout the day, the panellists will be around to answer questions, engage in debate and discussion.

The panel is made up of the following: 

• Holly Power, Return to Teach – a subscription-based digital platform which matches experienced teachers with schools who offer flexible working 
• Danielle Ayres, Gorvins Solicitors – Danielle is a Senior Associate Solicitor who runs the free legal advice line for Pregnant Then Screwed. 
• Lucy Rose, Flexible Teacher Talent – an organisation aiming to improve pupil outcomes by supporting schools who wish to retain effective teachers and by supporting such teachers wishing to work flexibly. 
• Michelle Thomason, parent, teacher and doctoral student – Michelle is passionate about eliminating the hypocrisy at the heart of the teaching profession when it comes to teaching and parenthood.
• Emma Sheppard, The Maternity Teacher, Paternity Teacher project – which inspires, empowers and connects teachers choosing to complete continued professional development whilst on parental leave.
• Anna Ives, Pregnant Then Screwed – Anna runs the flexible working helpline for Pregnant Then Screwed. She is an expert in helping parents create formal and informal flexible work requests when they return from parental leave.

Michelle Thomason, teacher and doctoral student adds:

“Not many professions have more qualified people outside of it than working within it. Sadly, the teaching profession appears to be one of them. With retention figures dropping year on year for the last five years, and with nearly half of all teachers entering the profession now likely to leave within five years; work-life balance is cited as one of the principal reasons why teachers leave the profession.

“More needs to be done, and can be done, without a complete re-think of roles, it just requires a little bit of creative thinking and some juggling of logistics, meaning that teachers can get the flexibility they crave. The Pregnant Then Screwed teachers event is a superb way to aid this discussion and I look forward to listening to the debate and adding to the conversation.”

The social media event starts at 10am on Thursday 28th February 2019, on Instagram – @pregnant_then_screwed, Twitter – @PregnantScrewed and Facebook @maternitydiscrimination or follow the #PTSteachers

About Pregnant Then Screwed: A project and campaign which protects, supports and promotes the rights of mothers who suffer the effects of systemic, cultural, and institutional discrimination through our various schemes and activities, including: A free legal advice service, a website where women post their stories of discrimination anonymously, lobbying the Government for legislative change, and a mentor scheme that supports women who are considering legal action against their employer.