Teachers at the Heart

Transforming Teacher Work: Teacher Recruitment and Retention After the Pandemic by Aimee Quickfall & Phil Wood
Emerald Publishing, July 24, 2024

Have you ever wondered what it would take to truly transform our education system? Aimee Quickfall and Phil Wood tackle this question head-on in their groundbreaking book, Transforming Teacher Work. This compelling read offers a bold vision for addressing the teacher recruitment and retention crisis plaguing schools, particularly in England. Quickfall and Wood don’t just rehash familiar problems such as overwhelming workloads, stress, burnout, and the exodus of experienced teachers. Instead, they delve deeply into the root causes and propose radical solutions. One of the most intriguing ideas presented is the creation of an “Education Council” to set a long-term strategy, placing teachers at the heart of decision-making. Another standout aspect is the authors’ call for an “evidential ecosystem”—a diverse range of educational research to inform policy and practice. Are we currently making the best use of education research? Quickfall and Wood argue for a more nuanced approach to ensure that diverse research perspectives shape our educational landscape. While the book focuses on England, its insights have global implications. The challenges of teacher recruitment, retention, and well-being are not unique to any one country.