Teachers suffering from 'burnout', new Ofsted chief warns

Sir Michael, principal of Mossbourne Community Academy in Hackney, who is due to become Ofsted’s chief inspector in January, was quizzed by MPs on Tuesday as part of a pre-appointment hearing.

He has a reputation as traditionalist and strong disciplinarian – imposing a strict uniform policy at his school and punishing bad behaviour with Saturday morning detentions.

In recent comments, he has also criticised poor performing teachers and attacked weak heads that allow their school to coast.

But speaking at Westminster, Sir Michael suggested that he also recognised the benefit of maintaining a contented workforce.

Asked for his opinions on granting teachers sabbaticals, he told the cross-party committee: “I would strongly support that, because there is an element of burnout, people need to be refreshed. This always comes down to money at the end of the day. Can it be afforded?

"I think it has to be, and I think we have to look at creative ways of doing this, of giving people who are doing very tough jobs, and doing it successfully, time off to refresh themselves.

"And although I've never taken a sabbatical, when I've noticed somebody on my staff suffering because of burnout, who is a successful person, and who is not back-sliding and just wants time off, then I've found the money to do that."

Speaking after the hearing, Sir Michael said burnout was “a widespread problem in schools”.

"It's a tough job, in most challenging areas, teaching five to six hours a day is a tough, tough job," he said.

"Head teachers want to reward people that are committed but are suffering burnout, if they can afford it."

But Nick Seaton, secretary of the Campaign for Real Education, which was set up by parents and teachers in the 80s, said the proposal risked enraging taxpayers.

“Teachers already get long holidays and I’d have thought that would be sufficient to compensate for heavy workloads,” he said. “Taxpayers, particularly in these difficult times, don’t want to be paying for teachers to have time off. They should put the children first.”

In further comments, Sir Michael told MPs that he had concerns about Government reforms that allow outstanding schools to be exempt from routine inspections.

He said the cross-party committee raised “valid” points in a report earlier this year that suggested there should be a clear trigger for inspection if signs emerge that standards are dropping or the school leadership changes.

"It's something I would have to look at because it would be a concern of mine as well, that outstanding schools can decline, and it's important that we know when they are declining and go in there as quickly as possible,” he said.

Sir Michael added that it was also important for inspectors to visit outstanding schools.

"It's really important that we know what good looks like, and know what outstanding looks like and disseminate that good practice," he said.