While the number of teachers leaving the Register remains steady for another year, our early insights suggest teachers are leaving sooner than expected.
We have previously reported that approximately 5% of teachers choose to leave the Register each year.
This trend has continued this year with data from our latest registration report showing that as at 31 March 2026 there were 80,560 individuals on the Register, and that 4,590 individuals left the Register between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026.
Why teachers leave the Register
We ask individuals leaving the Register of Teachers why they have chosen to do so.
In the 2025 to 2026 registration year, 549 individuals submitted a response to our anonymous survey, representing 12% of all those who left the Register in that period.
Retirement remains the main reason for teachers leaving the Register, with 63% of respondents selecting it. A total of 122 respondents (22%) said they had left the Register for other reasons, with 116 including additional text to support this:
- 32 cited ‘stress’ or ‘burnout’
- 28 said their decision related to pupil behaviour, violence and/or additional support needs
- 27 cited a lack of support, including:
- lack of support during their period of provisional registration
- lack of support from leadership teams
- lack of support in the classroom, particularly in relation to children and young people with additional support needs
- 25 cited problems with securing a post
- 24 noted workload or unnecessary bureaucracy
- 10 referred to bullying from colleagues or leadership
These responses suggest that there are cultural issues within learning communities which need to be addressed.
We are also concerned about the high proportion of respondents who reported that they experienced harassment from colleagues, learners and parents.
While 444 (83%) of respondents said they had not experienced harassment, 93 respondents (17%) reported harassment in their work in the 12 months before they left the Register:
- 40 said from colleagues
- 24 from learners
- 3 from parents
- 13 from colleagues and learners
- 4 from colleagues and parents
- 4 from learners and parents
- 5 from a combination of colleagues, learners and parents
Teachers leaving within 5 years of becoming provisionally registered
There has been a steadily increasing trend of fully registered teachers leaving the Register within 5 years of successfully completing their initial teacher education programme.
In 2025 to 2026, the number of teachers leaving at this point was more than double the figure in 2019:
- 2019: 186
- 2020: 222
- 2021: 174
- 2022: 212
- 2023: 316
- 2024: 394
- 2025: 385
Our recommendation: focus on teacher retention
Our insights suggest again this year that teachers are leaving the Register sooner than expected. Tackling the issues impacting on retention is critical to maximise existing resource as well as improving the attractiveness of the profession.
This should include action to strengthen induction for new teachers (read Reimagining teacher education in Scotland: teacher induction); improved support for early-career teachers as they develop confidence, expertise and professional identity; and teacher education and development that is genuinely career-long. Action must also be underpinned by an understanding of how workplace culture affects retention, wellbeing and the attractiveness of teaching as a career.
Deep consideration of structures such as working practices (particularly opportunities for flexible and part-time work), time for personal development, support for career progression and wellbeing interventions is necessary to enhance the attractiveness and diversity of the profession.
