Jane van Zyl of Working Families, Phil Clarke of the National Education Union and others on ways to tackle the significant problems schools face in recruiting and retaining staff

I was disheartened to see recent media coverage positioning Teach First’s well-considered recommendations for teachers’ working conditions as calls for “lie-ins” (Teachers in England offered lie-ins to make job more appealing, 19 September). This oversimplified narrative undermines the critical need to address the growing teacher recruitment and retention crisis.

Teach First’s report advocates for a more flexible and balanced working environment, proposing measures such as two free periods a week for preparation, more opportunities for remote working, and a nine-day fortnight. These are not frivolous demands, but rooted in a desire to protect teachers’ wellbeing, enable them to thrive in their roles and, ultimately, improve outcomes for students.