Workforce statistics present bleak picture

The Department for Education released the workforce statistics last week and this proved interesting reading when considering the current issue of a recruitment and retention crisis. One first glance, some headlines claiming that the number of teachers in the workforce is at a record high would seem to be something to celebrate. However, even though this is essentially true, there are now 468,371 teachers up by 27,000 from 2010, there has been an 11% rise in the number of pupils. The increase in teachers does not cover this increase in pupils. The number of support staff also rose to its highest level of 281,100, reflecting both rises in pupils and the rise in needs with EHCPs growing 9% this year.

Retention is the flip side of recruitment, the data also shows that 8.8% of teachers left for reasons other than retirement, up from 6.9% the previous year. This is also the highest figures since 2011. The overall rate for leavers is at its highest since 2018. Retaining new entrants to the profession has been something of a concern, and it is not abating. There was a slight increase to the number leaving after a year, 12.8% from 12.5% previously, and the percentage leaving after two years increased to 19.9%. More worrying is that over a third of teachers now leave the profession within 6 years of qualifying. Considering that many teaching training providers would say that 7 years in is when you hit your stride, children are not being given the most expert teaching experience.

Vacancies are at their highest levels since 2010 with 2,334 vacancies in 2022-23 compared to 1,564 previously, an increase of 49%. The number of temporarily filled roles are also increasing, representing 5% of all roles. The data also shows that fewer lessons were taken by specialist teachers. With headteachers stating that “finding maths, science and DT teachers akin to finding unicorns” it is worrying for the future of STEM and STEM related industries.