For the second consecutive year, the workforce of teachers in England’s state schools has declined, despite government claims of fulfilling its recruitment promises where necessary.
According to the annual school workforce census, there are currently 466,300 teachers employed in state schools, reflecting a decrease of over 1,900 since the previous year, primarily due to a drop in the number of educators in mainstream primary and secondary institutions.
The Department for Education (DfE) maintains that it is adhering to its commitment to hire an additional 6,500 teachers throughout this parliamentary term, particularly focusing on special needs educators, teachers for pupil referral units, and further education instructors for students up to the age of 18.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated, “We are making significant strides where it is most essential: we have already fulfilled more than two-thirds of our promise to recruit 6,500 more teachers, fewer educators are exiting the profession than ever recorded, and an increasing number are opting for long-term, fulfilling careers in teaching.”
Nevertheless, the DfE’s data indicates that the number of new entrants to the teaching profession has reached its lowest level in at least 15 years, with only 41,000 new and returning teachers joining state schools this year, down from 51,000 a decade ago.
Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, criticized the decline in teacher numbers, asserting that it undermines the government’s commitment to adding 6,500 teachers. He pointed out that the number of newly qualified teachers is at its lowest since records began 30 years ago.
Kebede expressed, “The government is at a pivotal moment regarding education. With decreasing student numbers, there is a unique opportunity to significantly enhance children’s educational experiences by increasing staff levels and reducing class sizes, similar to the approach taken by the previous Labour government 25 years ago.”
In its 2024 manifesto, Labour promised to “recruit 6,500 new teachers in essential subjects to prepare children for their future, funding this initiative through the elimination of tax benefits for private schools.”
The DfE contended that it has successfully added 4,600 teachers relative to its 2023 baseline, excluding primary educators. They reported a net gain of 1,000 secondary teachers and approximately 2,000 special needs and pupil referral unit teachers, along with an additional 1,600 further education educators, although official statistics have yet to be released.
Jack Worth, who leads the education workforce initiative at the National Foundation for Educational Research, indicated that the DfE’s figures include 2,300 additional teachers recorded in November 2024, shortly after Labour assumed power, suggesting that it is “highly improbable that their policies could have significantly influenced these numbers.”
Worth noted, “Continued progress is crucial to reversing the adverse effects caused by the previous shortage of specialist teachers in certain secondary subjects, especially in schools serving the most disadvantaged communities. Currently, one in six mathematics lessons for students in years 7 to 9 are still taught by non-specialist educators.”
The census also highlighted that the number of pupils receiving free school meals has increased by an additional 45,000, bringing the total to over 2.2 million, which accounts for 26.5% of all students. The north-east of England is notably impacted, with one in three pupils eligible for free meals, while 31% are eligible within the West Midlands. In the eastern and southeastern regions of England, the eligibility rate stands at 21%.
