The 2019 teacher registration renewal period (registration expired 31 January 2019) resulted in 1 264 teachers (i.e. 11% of the renewal cohort) opting not to continue their registration. To gain feedback for making this choice, teachers were invited to complete an anonymous survey capturing their reasons for non-renewal.

The survey also captured data not collected by the Teachers Registration Board including years of teaching experience, employment status (i.e., permanent, contract, temporary relief teacher), and employment setting (early years, primary or secondary settings). These data allowed the reasons selected to be compared across these various groupings of teachers to identify similarities and differences.

A total of 259 teachers responded, with 33% of these having 0-9 years of teaching, 22% 10-20 years and 45% 20+ years.

Teachers could select multiple reasons for non-renewal, which aligned with three key themes:

1. Teacher wellbeing (53% of responses), included disenchantment with increasing levels of accountability around teaching; the impact of the workplace environment on teacher wellbeing; stress and anxiety within the workplace.
2. The profession (38% of responses), included the inability of teachers to complete 60 hours of professional learning, or not having completed 60 days of professional practice for those with (full) Registration. There was some confusion regarding this requirement. See Professional Practice for practice for Renewal of (full) Registration. 
3. Retirement (27%) of teachers.