More than 250,000 teachers quit under Labour because of rowdy pupils and red tape

A collapse in discipline in the classroom and increasing red tape has seen a rise in the number of those leaving the profession.

Figures obtained by the Conservatives showed nearly 100,000 switched careers between 2000 and 2005, more than double the number that left in the preceding five-year period.

There are now 269,800 trained teachers under 60 who do not have school jobs although the real figure, including 2005-2007, is likely to be far higher.

The largest drain has come from secondary education, where nearly 140,000 teachers have left.

Of those who qualified in 2005, 7,900 have never taught, compared with 2,100 who completed their training in 2000.

In total, 91,300 qualified teachers have never taught in school. More teachers are also retiring early, with 16,850 taking their pension last year compared with 8,500 in 1998 to 1999.

Shadow Children, Schools and Families Secretary Michael Gove said: "Talent is going to waste. Not only are our children not achieving as they should, talented teachers are not where they should be - in the classroom, opening young minds to new horizons.

"With more than quarter of a million gifted professionals no longer in teaching, we have to ask why they've given up on education under Labour.

"I fear that a combination of classroom bureaucracy, Government micro-management and poor discipline in too many schools has encouraged a drift away from teaching."

But the Government dismissed claims that talent is going to waste and insisted recruitment into teaching has "never been more buoyant".

Schools Minister Jim Knight said more newly- qualified teachers are remaining in the profession than before.

He added: "Teaching is now the career of choice for many highly-qualified, talented individuals.

"Indeed Ofsted has said this is the best generation of teachers ever.

"A Bath University survey of 22,500 workers found that school, college and university teachers have climbed from being the 54th happiest occupation in 1999 to 11th in 2007.

"No government has done more to support teachers."

A spokesman for the Training and Development Agency for Schools said: "Many qualified teachers decide to take a break from the profession for a number of reasons.

"The figures released today do not take account of the fact that up to 30,000 teachers return to teaching at a later date, with added industry experience and a new enthusiasm for teaching and learning."