Background

The NASUWT is committed to tackling all forms of age-related discrimination and prejudice in the workplace. While recognising that age discrimination can affect members of all ages, the Union has become increasingly concerned by reports from teachers aged 50 or over or who self- identify as older teachers that they are subject to age discrimination in the workplace.

An online survey of teachers and headteachers, conducted over ten days in March 2010, attracted 3,525 responses. Of these, 73% were from respondents aged over 50. Ten per cent of all responses were from teachers aged over 60, while 13% were from teachers aged 35 to 50. The survey examined:

• teachersʼ personal experience of age-related discrimination and prejudice; • experience of harassment in the workplace related to age;

• the extent to which schools have agreed policies in place on age-related discrimination and prejudice and the form and content of these policies; and

• teachersʼ perceptions of views held by schools or colleges about employing older teachers.

EXPERIENCE OF AGE-RELATED DISCRIMINATION

The survey found evidence of significant and wide-ranging age discrimination in many aspects of the employment of older teachers. There were no significant differences in relation to the reported experiences of men and women.

Job advertisements

With regard to the recruitment of teachers, 39% of respondents said that they had encountered job advertisements that, in their opinion, suggested that older teachers were not encouraged to apply. Ten per cent of respondents reported that they had been refused employment on the grounds of their age.

Experience in the workplace

The survey asked about teachersʼ experiences of age discrimination in their current place of employment. In relation to access to promotion or professional development, one in five respondents reported that they had received less favourable treatment as result of their status as an older teacher. A minority of older teachers (7%) reported that they were employed on worse terms and conditions than other teachers. Ten per cent of respondents said that they had been informed by senior managers that their age would be a barrier to their future professional progression.

Differential treatment

The survey found that older teachers experienced different treatment in relation to the management of their work by senior colleagues. One in ten respondents reported that they were subject to different treatment during their performance management. Thirteen per cent of teachers said that they experienced more lesson observation, monitoring and scrutiny of their work than younger colleagues.

On appointment of a new headteacher, 21% of respondents indicated that they had experienced denigration or marginalisation of their professional capabilities on the specific grounds of their status as an older teacher.