Concerning trends in working conditions and staffing levels
Good working conditions include factors like a manageable workload, a healthy work-life balance and access to suitable professional development, helping educators to provide a high quality science education.
This year, we compared data from the 2023 and 2024 surveys, showing some concerning downward trends.
Understaffing
Staff shortages in school science departments is an urgent issue. Understaffing puts pressure on existing staff and threatens the high quality education that teachers and technicians work hard to provide.
The data from 2024 shows an increase in understaffing of teachers across the three science disciplines and a decline in science technician support. We will continue to track understaffing through The Science Teaching Survey.
Understaffing: 33% ▲
Up from 30% in 2023
I don’t have a lab technician, which impacts my preparation time and what I can offer to pupils.
Understaffing aligns with existing inequalities
When we compare the 2024 survey data by free school meals (FSM) eligibility, we see a notable difference in the levels of understaffing.
The 2022 and 2023 surveys showed that teachers working in areas of high socio-economic deprivation were more likely to report higher staff turnover and understaffing (among other issues).
Related links:
2022: Understaffing aligns with existing inequalities
Understaffing in mainstream state secondary schools by % of students eligible for free school meals (by nation):
Mainstream state secondary schools experience more understaffing in chemistry than private or independent schools.
| School type | Chemistry teachers | Science technicians |
|---|---|---|
| Mainstream state secondary school | 36% | 42% |
| Private/independent school | 15% | 24% |
Because the department is stretched and understaffed, and I am delivering lessons that I am not happy with, if given the time, I could achieve so much.
Class sizes increasing – this combined with a lack of technician makes practical work more and more daunting, and in some cases dangerous!
Packed timetables, lack of technicians, poor school leadership.
Continuing professional development
Looking at the survey data for 2023 and 2024, we remain concerned about the low proportion of science teachers who feel they receive enough professional development (PD).
Access to sufficient professional
development: 18% ▼
Down from 21% in 2023
Download the full data set for more on CPD findings
Related findings from previous surveys
- Professional development is inadequate for many teachers and technicians (2022 survey).
- Only a minority of teachers have received sufficient subject-specific professional development (2023 survey).
Build your confidence in chemistry teaching
- Fully-funded subject-specific PD courses – open to all teachers of chemistry and tailored to different career stages. Each course typically consists of four sessions to help you build confidence and skills in the classroom.
- Monthly online teacher support sessions – subject-specific PD on topical issues like AI, literacy, leadership, and sustainability.
- Online on-demand courses – covering core chemistry concepts. Learn at your own pace and try out new strategies and tactics in your classroom. New courses on subject knowledge, pedagogy, and other essentials are in development.are in development.
Science technician wellbeing
The 2024 data suggests that the wellbeing of school science technicians has declined since the 2023 survey. We’re concerned about this and want to understand the root causes. The 2025 Science Teaching Survey will help us gather data and identify potential solutions.
If you have insights into what might be contributing to this issue, please share your thoughts with us at education@rsc.org
Low technician wellbeing: 19% ▲
Up from 13% in 2023
Science technician wellbeing scores:
2023
Filter: Technicians; base n = 447
2024
Filter: Technicians; base n = 260
High levels of staff absence due to stress, ongoing gaps in knowledge and attitude to being in school/learning post-COVID.
Poor management of staff and wellbeing of staff is not given priority.
Download the full data set for more on teacher and technician wellbeing and job satisfaction
Related findings from previous surveys
- We reported on inadequate PD and its link with teachers considering leaving the profession in our 2022 survey. Professional development is inadequate for many teachers and technicians (2022 survey).
- Understaffing exacerbates pressure on teachers, particularly in socio-economically deprived areas (2023 survey)
Campaigning for change
We’re asking the UK Government to:
- address the teacher recruitment and retention crisis with long-term solutions that can withstand population and economic fluctuations
- address the shortage of school science technicians through improvements in conditions and pay
- invest in high quality subject-specific professional development for teachers.
