NEU comments on NFER report on teacher recruitment targets

Commenting on The Teacher Labour Market in England Annual Report 2022, published today by the National Foundation for Education Research (NFER) which highlights the risk of recruitment targets being missed across many secondary subjects, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:  

"The report from NFER shows what an unmitigated mess Government is making of education. As predicted teacher recruitment suffered as soon as the worst of the pandemic was over. What is even more worrying is the fact that subjects previously less impacted are now finding significant shortfalls in applicants.  

"Low pay, unmanageable workload and an overbearing accountability system is rendering the teaching profession unattractive to many. Government needs to get a grip on this situation. Schools and colleges will struggle to fill vacancies and existing teachers will be forced to spread themselves across subjects they are not necessarily qualified to teach.  

"Ultimately the biggest losers will be children and young people who will not be given the education they both need and deserve. It is unfathomable that Government is allowing this situation to continue and must start addressing the root causes of such low take up for teacher recruitment."