Violence, workloads and class sizes ranked as top concerns for Qld teachers

The analysis of more than 1100 school annual reports comes as the top complaints of Queensland teachers are revealed.

Exclusive Courier-Mail analysis reveals the schools teachers don't like working at.

Workplace violence, excessive workloads and ballooning class sizes rank as the top complaints among Queensland teachers, as The Courier-Mail reveals the schools staff like working at the least.

The Courier-Mail analysed three years of teacher survey results, published in the annual reports of more than 1100 Queensland state high and primary schools.

Teachers were asked to respond to the statement: “I enjoy working here”. The results are revealed in the table below.

Queensland Teachers’ Union president Cresta Richardson said significant increases in occupational violence and aggression were a major concern among the state’s teachers.

“Queensland students deserve to learn safely with enough teachers, the right class sizes, and the resources they need for a modern curriculum,” she said.

Queensland Association of Secondary School Principals president Pat Murphy said teachers valued supportive leadership and strong collegial relationships.

He said professional learning opportunities, positive school culture, student engagement and adequate resources were also highly valued, along with safe facilities and better teacher accommodation in rural and remote settings.

“Across Australia the teacher shortage is impacting almost every school community,” he said.

Mr Murphy said other main complaints included challenging student behaviour, insufficient resources, tired infrastructure and a lack of support staff.

He said it was hoped the Better and Fairer Schools agreement, launched in January this year by the Commonwealth and states, would result in better funding to address teacher concerns.

Originally published as Violence, workloads and class sizes ranked as top concerns for Qld teachers