Commenting on the publication of the Department for Education's working lives of teachers and leaders survey, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“These findings are a damning indictment of government policies which have neglected schools for over a decade, and with them, the futures of our children. 

“Anyone questioning why ourselves and other teaching unions are in dispute with the government only has to look at these survey results.

“They lay bare the unacceptable hours worked by school leaders who have lost nearly a fifth of their real-terms pay since 2010 and overwhelmingly feel that their views are not valued by policy-makers including the government.

“For too long, ministers have taken the goodwill of hardworking leaders and school staff for granted, forcing them to patch up a crumbling system while serving up massive real terms funding and pay cuts alongside a high-stakes accountability regime. 

“It’s depressing but sadly unsurprising that staff have been left feeling stressed, overworked and struggling with their health and well-being, with worrying numbers seriously considering leaving the state sector entirely.

“This must be a watershed moment which finally sparks decisive action by the government to make a fair pay offer, tackle a catastrophic recruitment and retention crisis, and urgently reform the flawed school inspection system in order to support staff wellbeing.”