Working lives of teachers and leaders: wave 4 summary report November 2025

The working lives of teachers and leaders study is an annual survey of teachers and leaders in state schools in England. Some of the findings of the report are as follows (figures in brackets relate to the previous year 2024):

• 53% of senior leaders reported spending too much time on both administration within the school and 43% responding to government policy changes, the same as previous years
• 26% of teachers and leaders agreed that their workload was acceptable (22% in 2024)
• 51% of teachers and leaders had a flexible working arrangement in place. This was an increase compared with all previous years (46% in 2024 and 2023, 40% in 2022)
• The proportion of teachers and leaders rating pupil behaviour as poor or very poor in 2025 remained broadly consistent with 2024 and preceding years.
• 77% of leaders reported that behaviour at their school was either good or very good, the same as previous 2 years, but a decrease from the 85% seen in 2022.
• 38% of teachers and leaders agreed that they were satisfied with their salary, an increase compared to all previous waves (30% in 2024, 20% in 2023, and 26% in 2022).
• 54% of all teachers and leaders reported that they were satisfied with their job either most or all of the time in 2025 (49% in 2024).
• 29% of teachers and leaders indicated that they were considering leaving the English state school sector in the next 12 months for reasons other than retirement (34% and 36% seen in 2024 and 2023 respectively, but higher than the 25% seen in 2022).

All measures of overall teacher and leader wellbeing improved for 2025 when compared with all previous waves. The average life satisfaction score for teachers and leaders increased in comparison with all previous waves, as did the average happiness score and the score they gave to feeling that things done in their life are worthwhile. The average anxiety score of 4.4 decreased (a higher score indicates greater anxiety) compared with the previous three waves (4.6 in 2024, 2023 and 2022).