A TEACHING union in East Lancashire has branded figures revealing that almost four out of ten teachers are no longer in the classroom after a year as an 'absolute disgrace'.

Figures disclosed at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers conference in Liverpool showed that only 62 per cent were still in teaching a year after gaining their Qualified Teacher Status.

The figures, based on an analysis of Department for Education data, also showed that the number who complete their training but never enter the classroom has tripled in six years - from 3,600 in 2006 to 10,800 in 2011.

The cost to the taxpayer of training them is estimated to be just under £1 billion.

Simon Jones, who represents the National Union of Teachers in Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen, said: "These figures paint a disturbing picture and it's a scandalous waste of talent, resources and money.

"I see no reason why these figures will not also be the same in Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen and I can see them getting worse if nothing is done to address this issue.

"If you asked teachers they would say that the main problem is the workload which seems to be getting more and more.

"I would say that 90 per cent of those who are leaving the profession would say it is for that reason mainly.

"These new teachers are getting out while they still can and still have the chance to do something else with their lives.

"They will also be looking at their peers from university who are earning more money and also still have a good work-life balance."

Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of ATL, said: "Despite (former education secretary) Michael Gove's intentions, teaching has become a profession monitored to within an inch of its life.

"It is sad but true that students and newly qualified teachers are being told by teachers they meet during their training that with current workload, inspection and training this is no career to enter.

"Too many school leaders driven by fear of inspection drive their teaching staff to do things which add not one jot to the quality of teaching but to bureaucratic work, filling forms, inputting data and using three different coloured pens for 'deep marking' and so on.

"I want decent work lives for education professionals and an end to 60-hour working weeks which can only lead to exhaustion, stress and burnout."