New report: The role of retention, recruitment and place in achieving the government's 6,500 new teachers pledge
A combined strategy to keep existing teachers in the classroom and attract new ones into the profession is needed to effectively tackle the ongoing teacher shortages, focussed on the schools struggling most to attract and retain qualified teachers, the National Institute of Teaching (NIoT) has said.
The Institute has today released its new report Building a resilient teacher workforce: The role of retention, recruitment and place in achieving the Government's 6,500 new teachers pledge.
Starting from Labour’s commitment to recruit 6,500 new teachers, the report recommends shifting the focus from counting teacher hours to maximising teacher impact on children’s educational outcomes, and includes experimental data modelling to combine the effects of teacher supply, teacher experience and pupil population.
Recent data shows that nearly 42% of teachers leave the profession within ten years of qualifying. This highlights the significant challenges in maintaining a stable teaching workforce, particularly in areas where education outcomes are most at risk.
To support the Government’s teacher recruitment target, a teacher workforce strategy needs to focus on:
- Place-based recruitment: Directing recruitment efforts to the parts of the country with the greatest need would help to increase the supply of new teachers to schools which can benefit most. This targeted strategy is essential for addressing the stark geographic disparities in educational outcomes, particularly in areas that have long struggled to attract and retain teaching staff.
- Broadening access to teaching: Expanding and diversifying pathways into the teaching profession, including apprenticeships and career conversion programmes, is critical for attracting a broader and more diverse pool of candidates. By making the profession more accessible, these initiatives can help bring in new talent, ultimately enriching the educational landscape.
- Retention through professional development: The retention of teachers, particularly in high-need areas, can be supported by robust professional development and support. The NIoT advocates for continuous professional growth opportunities for teachers and school leaders, enhancing teaching quality and creating a supportive environment where educators are more likely to remain in the profession
Melanie Renowden, Chief Executive of the National Institute of Teaching, said: “Recruiting more teachers is part of the solution. But to truly address the challenges in our education system, we must ensure that the benefit is felt by the schools having the most difficulty with staffing.
“And beyond recruitment, we should redouble our efforts to support teachers to stay and to thrive in the classroom. We must ensure that every child, no matter where they live, is given the advantages unlocked by access to great teaching.”