New report reveals teacher vacancies almost twice pre-COVID level
by Educate Magazine March 23, 2023 · Education News
A new report published today (23 March) has revealed that teacher vacancies are almost twice pre-COVID level, and the initial teacher training (ITT) recruitment target is likely to be missed for the second year.
The National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) is calling for a long-term strategy on teacher pay to halt this “growing school workforce crisis” in their Teacher Labour Market in England Annual Report 2023.
 in 2023/24 is likely to be significantly below target. </p>
<p>NFER said that primary ITT and nine out of 17 secondary subjects – physics, computing, design and technology, business studies, modern foreign languages, religious education, music, drama and art and design – are expected to be 20 per cent or more below target.</p>
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The report also makes the following further recommendations:
- The government should continue to remain focussed on reducing teacher workload by supporting schools in implementing the recommendations of the Teacher Workload Advisory Groups.
- The government should fund further research to better understand teachers’ flexible working preferences and use the findings to revisit the 2019 Teacher Recruitment and Retention Strategy, ensuring it reflects the new post-pandemic realities of working life.
- Given the demand for flexible working arrangements, school leaders should explore what options may work for their schools.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, commented on the report.
He said: “This is another very worrying report on the state of the teacher labour market, and one the government should be paying close attention to. It is clear that teaching doesn’t look like a very attractive career right now and we urgently need that to change.
“The government’s sole focus has been on starting pay and early career pay, but differentiated pay awards have seen experienced teachers’ pay falling further behind relative to early career teachers. People looking at teaching as a career choice can see that there will be inadequate pay progression as they gain experience and responsibility.
“Leadership wastage rates are equally as worrying as the terrible early career attrition rates. NAHT has previously revealed that about a third of senior school leaders leave their post within 5 years of appointment, and that only a quarter of deputy and assistant heads aspire to headship.
“If the government are to improve recruitment and ensure adequate supply of teachers to deliver for the pupils in our country, they must look at the career of teaching as a whole and make changes that mean a life-long career in education and progressing to school leadership is attractive. They could start by restoring pay and reducing the impact of workload and high-stakes accountability.”
