Teachers score well on happiness

Most teachers are happy in their work and enjoy comfortable lives, contrary to the popular image of a downtrodden profession, a survey has said.

Seven out of 10 of those questioned for a poll said they were satisfied with their job.

And eight out of 10 said they enjoyed a comfortable life, according to the survey carried out for The Times Educational Supplement.

Work pressure

The study - of 500 teachers - found that 90% of those over 30 years old owned their own homes.

Most of those over 40 were in detached homes and most said they went on holidays abroad.

More than 60% said their journey to work took less than 20 minutes.

Poll findings

seven out of 10 are satisfied with their job

eight out of 10 feel comfortably off

six out of 10 think they will be teaching in five years' time

But despite their relative contentment, most (82%) said their work had become more pressured in the past year.

And only 60% thought they would still be teaching in five years' time.

Among the under 50s who are thinking of leaving the profession, most blamed a heavy workload.

How well off teachers feel seems to vary with distance from London, according to the survey's statistics.

This is reflected in the pattern of teacher shortages, with schools in London and the South East struggling most to find teachers.

In the north of England, the Midlands and East Anglia, nearly 80% think they are well off.

But in London, just over half of those questioned agreed, while 36% said they were poor.

The other factor was age. Only 58% of teachers under 30 said they were well off.