TES Global survey highlights teacher recruitment ‘black spots’
TES Global has published the latest findings of its regular teacher recruitment survey, which suggest that schools in some areas are experiencing significant difficulties in recruiting new staff compared to three years ago, particularly in certain subjects. Based on interviews with almost 5000 schools, the TES Teacher Recruitment Index has found that schools in the […]
TES Global has published the latest findings of its regular teacher recruitment survey, which suggest that schools in some areas are experiencing significant difficulties in recruiting new staff compared to three years ago, particularly in certain subjects.
Based on interviews with almost 5000 schools, the TES Teacher Recruitment Index has found that schools in the London, the South East and West Midlands currently face the biggest challenges in recruiting staff compared to 2012.
Physics emerged as the hardest subject to recruit teachers for, with schools in London receiving an average of just two applications for such posts compared compared to eight in 2012. Other subjects experiencing apparent teacher shortages included maths, English and IT.
The study found that the most rapid falls in recruitment rates appeared to have taken place in Inner London, Yorkshire & Humber and North West England. Conversely, teacher recruitment numbers in the North East, North West and South West appeared to be holding steady with what they were three years ago.
Commenting on the results, TES Global CEO, Rob Grimshaw, said: “While we may not be facing a national crisis in teacher recruitment, it will certainly feel like it in some areas. Schools are having to become increasingly creative to find the talent they need,” said
The latest TES Teacher Recruitment Index numbers come as the Education Committee prepares to hear evidence from unions, teaching associations and education professionals on December 9th, as part of its ‘Supply of teachers’ inquiry into current levels of teacher recruitment and retention.
Among the witnesses will be NAHT general secretary Russell Hobby, schools minister Nick Gibb and Teach First‘s Executive Director of Programmes, Sam Freedman. Earlier this month the inquiry received written evidence from a range of individuals and organisations, a full list of which can be found here.
