ATL comment on ITT number census 2015 to 2016

“Today’s figures from the Department for Education highlight what most in education already know: that teacher recruitment levels are at a critically low point, particularly in subjects such as physics, RE and design and technology. 

“What the figures don’t capture is that even in subjects where recruitment appears to be close to target, those trainees might not be where they’re most needed once they’re qualified. They also don’t capture the ever-increasing workload and a growing gap between private and public wages in a context of high rents and mortgages, which are driving many excellent teachers out of what can be a deeply rewarding profession.

“We hope that the Select Committee tomorrow listens to the wide range of evidence being submitted around teacher supply, including both recruitment and retention, and firmly advise Nick Gibb that worrying about political word-playing around challenge or crisis isn’t dealing with the reality that many schools just do not have enough teachers to teach their pupils the subjects they need.”