A Government report reveals that it has failed to meet its own initial teacher training recruitment targets in England.
Commenting on the news, Peter Shreeve, Assistant District Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“Overall recruitment of secondary subject specialists reached a pitiful 50 per cent vacancies filled compared to 57 per cent last year. Secondary targets have not been met since 2012/13, except once.
“The DfE said its comprehensive failure to reach targets was driven by an increase in available places and fewer applicants – over 1500 fewer! But it is real terms pay cuts, excessive workload and overwhelming underinvestment, that is making teaching unappealing.”
Shreeve: Only 50 per cent of much-needed secondary trainees
Mr Shreeve went on to say,
“Who would have thought this year’s figures would be worse than last year with only 50 per cent of much-needed secondary trainees acquired? A universal failure for almost all secondary subjects, except history and PE.
“The Prime Minister is pushing increased maths provision, yet we are recruiting less than two-thirds of maths teachers required to meet current demand.”
Mr Shreeve explained that primary school trainees fare somewhat better, with 96 per cent of the target achieved. However, in the previous eight years the primary target was not met in three of them.
He went on to add,
“A recruitment failure felt by all – school leaders unable to recruit qualified staff, existing staff overworked and far too many pupils being taught by non-specialists.”
Retention a major issue
However, Mr Shreeve explains that recruitment is only half the story. He said,
“We lose over 30 per cent of trained teachers within the first five years of their career, and record numbers of teachers are quitting before retirement age. One national Academy chain has indicated staff turnover at more than 1 in 5 in the last year.
“Children and young people on the Isle of Wight deserve better. Hasn’t Government been listening? Be in no doubt – the teacher recruitment and retention crisis, already serious, is becoming even worse.”
