When does an attendance problem become something bigger than attendance?

A falling attendance percentage can be the first visible sign of a much bigger issue.

Why is persistent absence still so difficult to tackle?

Attendance looks simple in a spreadsheet: a pupil is either in school or they are not. The reasons behind persistent absence rarely fit into a neat column.

Are experienced TAs being lost because progression opportunities are too limited?

Experienced TAs often become the people everyone turns to — they know the pupils, the routines, the families and how to make difficult moments work.

Should there be a clearer national career pathway for teaching assistants?

A great teaching assistant can become exceptionally skilled — but the next step is not always obvious.

Could schools function without TAs in their current numbers?

Take teaching assistants out of a typical school day and the impact would be felt almost immediately.

Are we overlooking return-to-teaching candidates?

A break from teaching does not erase somebody’s classroom experience.

Should schools be doing more to retain staff over 50?

Experience in a school is difficult to replace.

Does the profession have a recruitment problem or a retention problem?

Recruitment gets the headlines because vacancies are visible. Retention is quieter — until the experience has already walked out of the door.

Would you recommend teaching to an 18-year-old today?

Teaching still offers something few careers can match: the chance to have a visible, lasting impact on other people’s lives.

Is teacher recruitment actually improving, or are schools just getting better at coping with shortages?

A vacancy being filled does not always mean the recruitment problem has disappeared.