Teacher strikes poll — March 2023

• 72% of parents agree that teachers should receive a pay settlement in line with current inflation 
• 63% of parents support teachers striking (54% strongly support and 9% tend to support) whilst 29% of parents oppose the strikes (18% strongly and 11% tend to oppose). 
• 84% of parents believe any pay rise for teachers should be funded by additional money from the government whilst 8% said it should be paid for by schools out of their existing budgets.
• 83% of parents are concerned about the impact of teacher shortages at their child’s school
• 73% of parents have faced disruption due to the teachers’ strikes (30% significant disruption and 43% some disruption). 27% of parents haven’t faced any disruption. 
• 38% of parents agree with the government’s proposal that schools must ensure a minimum service level is maintained for teachers to be allowed to strike whilst 50% of parents disagree. 

Our Chief Executive, Jason Elsom says:

“Parentkind is an apolitical organisation that represents the views of parents as essential stakeholders in their children’s education. Our polling demonstrates that parents understand that teachers are not immune to the cost-of-living crisis we all face today, and that they are concerned with the well-being, retention, and recruitment of great teachers, who they entrust with the care and development of those they hold most dear. 

Nobody, least of all parents, wants to see schools closed and children’s education disrupted, but there is an increasing urgency to prioritise educational funding, so that we can deliver a world-leading education system, with the capacity to support our children in becoming thriving adults in an uncertain world.”