This report is based on original teacher survey data collected directly from UK teachers through the Only for Teachers platform. All insights and findings are unique to our community.
Published: Sept 2025 | Source: Only for Teachers original survey data
As the new academic year begins, you’ve likely been feeling a mix of emotions. A fresh start with new students, but also that familiar weight of the challenges ahead. As it turns out, you’re not the only one feeling this way. Our recent survey offers a candid look at how your fellow educators are feeling as we head into 2025/26, and the results are eye-opening.
The big picture.
Let’s start with the hard truth. When asked about the overall outlook for teaching in the UK, a significant portion of you are feeling pessimistic.
- A combined 50% of you are feeling either “Very pessimistic” (8%) or “Somewhat pessimistic” (42%) about the profession
- Only 18% feel Optimistic, with just a tiny 1% feeling “Very optimistic.”
If you’ve been feeling this way, know that you’re in good company. This broad sentiment likely reflects the ongoing pressures — from strained budgets to the ever-present challenge of teacher recruitment and retention.
The survey also identified two major sources of concern: resources and workload. The findings indicate a clear lack of confidence in school resourcing levels.
- A substantial 64% of you felt a lack of confidence in current resources, with 16% feeling “Not confident at all” and 48% feeling “Not very confident.”
- Only 22% responded saying they felt “Somewhat confident” or “Very confident.”
This concern is amplified by the widespread expectation of an increased workload. As combined, 73% of you believe that your workload will “Slightly increase” (50%) or “Significantly increase” (23%).
To help spread some joy amongst our teaching community and right now, we feel it’s needed, we’ve rounded up some top discounts available exclusively to teachers*:
- Free subscription to Headspace
- Up to 25% off on O2 airtime plans
- 20% off food at Turtle Bay
- Exclusive savings on cars with Motor Source Group
- Up to 25% off at Bloom & Wild
Feeling unprepared for Ofsted? You’re not the only one.
Another significant point of anxiety is the impending change to the Ofsted inspection framework. If you’ve been feeling out of the loop or unprepared, you’re not alone.
- Combined, 47% of you feel “Not at all prepared” (31%) or “Unsure about the changes” (16%)
- A mere 19% of you feel “Prepared“, with only 2% feeling “Very prepared.”
It’s clear that while new policies are being developed, a huge portion of the teaching workforce feels left in the dark and anxious about what the new rules will mean for our schools and our livelihoods.
For more information about Ofsted’s new Education Inspection Framework, visit their site. The Key has also produced a helpful summary.
But as always… you’re still optimistic for your students.
Despite all the challenges, there is a powerful and hopeful twist to these results. When asked if you were optimistic about the start of the new school year for yourselves and your students, the numbers shifted dramatically.
An encouraging 60% of you are “Somewhat optimistic” (56%) or “Very optimistic” (4%).
This is what makes teachers so special. Even when you’re concerned about budgets, policy and workload, your students remain a source of hope and motivation.
So, as you step into the classroom this year, know that you’re part of a resilient and dedicated community. The challenges are real, but so is your profound impact.
*All discounts mentioned in this blog are provided by third-party companies at the time of writing. Only for Teachers is not responsible for the content or validity of these offers. Always check the terms and conditions on the company’s website before making a purchase.
Survey Results
Our Methodology
About this survey
All insights published on Only for Teachers come directly from teachers across the UK. Each week, we run original surveys on topics that matter most to educators — from classroom practice and workload to wellbeing and policy changes.
Who takes part
Participants are active UK teachers who have registered with Only for Teachers. Every response remains fully anonymous.
How we collect data
Our surveys are designed and distributed weekly through the Only for Teachers platform. Questions are short, relevant, and built to capture honest opinions efficiently. Each survey typically runs for one week, and responses are gathered using secure, GDPR-compliant forms.
Data integrity
We ensure one response per teacher, prevent duplicate entries, and apply basic data cleaning before publishing results. No weighting or external adjustments are made — what you see reflects the real voices of UK teachers.
How we analyse & publish
Responses are aggregated and summarised by the Only for Teachers research team. Results are published exclusively on our website and social channels and are original to this community. When relevant, we also feature selected teacher comments to add qualitative insights.
Use of insights
You’re welcome to reference or cite our findings in your articles, research, or policy papers — please credit: “Source: Only for Teachers – Original UK Teacher Survey Insights”