THE number of teachers retiring early in Wales is 65% higher than five years ago, Welsh Conservative research has revealed.

Some 610 teachers took early retirement in the 2007/8 academic year compared to 370 in 2003/4.

The figures also show that the overall number of teachers quitting is 43% higher in 2007/8 than 2003/4.

Over the same period the total number of teachers in service fell by more than 400.

Earlier this year figures revealed how two in every three teachers took time off sick in 2008, with the total number of sickness days lost rising by more than 9,000 on the previous 12 months.

Welsh Conservatives today warned that falling teacher numbers could put additional strain on remaining staff and impact on educational standards.

The party claimed an increasing workload on teachers, concerns over classroom discipline, and red tape were to blame for more staff leaving the profession.

A report by the Assembly's enterprise and learning committee in February found that the Teachers' Workload Agreement, introduced in 2003, had failed to cut the number of hours worked.

Figures published by the Welsh Conservatives last September revealed that at least four teachers are verbally or physically assaulted every day in Wales.

Commenting on the teacher retirement figures Shadow Education Minister Paul Davies AM said:

"Long working hours, insufficient funding, poor classroom discipline, bureaucracy and targets have contributed to this worrying trend. Talent is going to waste.

"We need to improve the working conditions for teachers to give them more support and help them remain motivated and in the classroom.

"Schools across Wales cannot afford to lose experienced staff in increasing numbers.

"The fact fewer teachers were in service last year, two in three are taking time off sick, and more are retiring early suggests there is a problem the Education Minister cannot ignore."

Shadow Local Government Minister Darren Millar AM, who conducted the research, said:

"We need to get to the root cause of why more teachers are quitting the profession early.

"It is clear to me that Assembly Government policies are a major contributory factor.

"No doubt Jane Hutt will tell us her government has increased the number of teachers in training – ignoring the fact more are quitting altogether.

"Educational standards in Wales have already slipped behind those in other parts of the United Kingdom.

"The minister needs to work with local education authorities and teaching unions to devise policies which will value the work of teachers, provide the right work-life balance, and target specific areas where there are staff shortages."