Post-election, VoicED conducted a survey which revealed that two fifths (43.1 per cent) of teachers are less likely to stay in their current role in education, as a result of the Conservative party’s General Election win in May.

After the General Election, both primary school and secondary school teachers were asked: “Will the result of the General Election make you more or less likely to continue working in your current role in education?”

Of the respondents who were less likely to stay in their current role in education because of the Conservative party’s majority win, 22 per cent said that they were “much less likely” to stay in their current role.

The respondents were also asked which party they voted for in the election. It was found that 62.4 per cent of those who voted for Labour said that the Tory victory would make them less likely to stay in their current role in education.

However, of those who voted for the Conservatives, 23.9 per cent claimed they were now more likely to stay in their current role, as opposed to just 2 individual Labour-voting respondents who said the same.

Of those who voted for Labour, 74 per cent said that they felt very negatively towards the General Election results, along with 53 per cent of those who voted for the Green party.

55 per cent of those who voted for the Liberal Democrats said that the results would not affect the likelihood that they would either leave or stay in their current role. However, 40.8 per cent said that the results would make it more likely that they would leave their current position. No Liberal Democrat-voting respondents said that the results would make it more likely to continue in their current role.

When all of the respondents were asked if they would vote for the same party again if the election was held again the following day, 92 per cent said that they would still vote for the same party. However, 5 per cent said that they would vote for a different party.

When looking at the respondents who said that they would vote differently, it can be seen from the results that it was the respondents who voted for the smaller parties who would be more inclined to support a different party if they were able to recast their vote.

Other findings of the survey are:

• 95 per cent of those who voted for Labour would vote for the same party again. However, 3 per cent would vote differently.
• 98 per cent of Conservative voters would stand by their original vote and just 1 per cent would change their vote.
• 85 per cent of those who voted for the Liberal Democrats would stick by their vote, although, 11 per cent would decide to vote differently.
• 93 per cent of those who voted for the Green Party would vote for the same party again. However, 8 per cent would vote differently.

Elliot Simmonds, the Panel Manager here at VoicED, said of the survey:

 “The results we see in our snapshot survey in terms of teacher voting are largely in line with a poll carried out by TES in April, just prior to the Election, to ascertain teacher voting intentions.

 There is clearly work for Nicky Morgan and the Conservative Party to do in terms of reassuring teachers. Whether these results are an on-going hangover from the toxic relationship between educators and Michael Gove remains to be seen, but with two fifths of teachers suggesting the Election outcome has left them less likely to continue in their current role, the new Government needs to work fast to re-establish widespread support and reassure education professionals.”