Seventy nine per cent of people from Birmingham believe school teachers are very or quite influential on the lives of others, second only to parents and friends, according to new research released today.
The research shows that more than a third (34%) of people from Birmingham feel school or university has been one of the biggest influences on their life – tipped only by family life (57%) and equal to work life (34%).
Despite the rise of celebrity influence, well-known faces from popular culture – celebrities (61%) and social media influencers (58%) – are deemed by the general public to have less effect than parents, friends and school teachers.
The national survey of over 3,000 people1, for the national Get Into Teaching campaign, looks at the public’s perception of influence and influencers, and how this could and should be harnessed.
Spending around 35 hours at school each week, students spend a significant amount of time in the company of their teachers. Fifty nine per cent (59%) said that it was between one and five teachers that helped to influence and shape them into the person they are today, and 44% felt 13-15 years was the age during school life that teachers influenced them most.
More than half (58%) of people from Birmingham said they remembered the name of their favourite teacher and almost two thirds (64%) said they were grateful to a teacher or teachers for the influence they had in shaping the person they are today – demonstrating the lasting impact that a teacher can have.
People from Birmingham feel that the most rewarding kinds of influence are seeing the difference they have made (49%) and inspiring someone to learn more or take action (49%). More than half (52%) felt that being an influencer or influencing people can have a positive impact, and 52% of people feel influencing people can be rewarding.
Craig Smith, a PE teacher at Ark Kings Academy in Birmingham, said:
“As a teacher, you have the unique opportunity to guide pupils into the future and be a positive influence on the adult they will become. It takes enthusiasm, dedication and hard work to teach students and keep them interested, but you do this in the knowledge that your positive influence will play a part - however small or large - in their lives forever. As a head of year and PE teacher, there are so many ways that I can make an impact through positivity and believing that every child can and will be successful - this motivates me every day.”
Dr Anna Colton, Child & Adolescent Psychologist, said:
“Good teachers are invaluable. The role of a good teacher is to engage, inspire and nurture their students and the impact they can have on their lives is profound and irreplaceable. Increasingly we live in a society where we are subject to a myriad of influencers – many of whom we have never met and in whom we place trust. Teachers have a significant role in providing a positive, thoughtful and inspiring influence in and amongst this. Teachers spend a huge amount of time with young people, understanding their world view and helping them to fit into it and this is hugely important and meaningful. Teachers with a passion for a subject, endless encouragement for their students and those who instil confidence and curiosity in young people have always been and will continue to be some of the most important influencers of our time.”
When it comes to teachers leaving a positive and lasting influence, almost three quarters (71%) said teachers played a part in their experience and influence from school and over half of people from Birmingham agree that teachers helped to push them further (57%) or believe in their talents (55%).
On the power of influence and how it should be most utilised, almost half (47%) of the respondents in Birmingham said it should be to help others achieve and succeed, 39% said to have a positive impact on society and 42% said in order to nurture and support other people.
Roger Pope, spokesperson for the Get Into Teaching campaign and a National Leader or Education, said: “Our research underlines how teachers have stood the test of time when it comes to shaping the lives of others. In a world where modern-day social media and celebrity influencers are often in the limelight, it is interesting to see how the public recognise the real and lasting impact teachers have as influencers in their own right. Teachers are essentially the ‘original influencers’ in that they are the individuals, aside from loved ones, that people spend a significant amount of time with, giving people from a young age the confidence and courage to achieve.
“The research also highlights the kind of things people want from individuals influencing others, and this matches up with what teachers do in abundance. Teaching should be a consideration for anyone looking for an opportunity to make this kind of positive and lasting impact as it genuinely is a career that few others can compete with.”
Applications to start teacher training in September 2019 are open. Individuals could get a £26,000 tax-free bursary to train as a teacher in selected subjects including science, computing, geography and languages.
