FED WORKFORCE FUTURES PROJECT IN THE SPOTLIGHT, MORE CALLS FOR LONG TERM PLANNING, NEW FOCUS FOR NATIONAL SUMMIT ANNOUNCED

The teacher workforce has quite rightly been centre stage of national political discussions?this week. Sir Keir?Starmer?spoke about a?long-term plan, and a??'decade of national renewal'.

These comments are against backdrop of a looming global crisis in teacher recruitment and retention, with a staggering need for 44 million teachers by 2030. Attrition rates have doubled and millions of teachers are needed worldwide, prompting a global shortage like never before.

These issues were highlighted in a?recently released report by BETT,?HP and the FED titled 'From Crisis to Classroom: A Global Blueprint for Teacher Retention'. The report highlights that 'education systems need to plan beyond political cycles to ensure sustainability and impactful change. The average Minister for Education can expect to stay in post for a little over a year, taking policies with them - an unsustainable model not built for impactful change' and suggests that 'policymakers should commit to planning over a minimum of ten years [...] and that cross-party buy-in is crucial for sustained reform.'

Closer to home, the Education Select?committee’s?report on teacher recruitment and retention?was released this week.?Robin Walker MP, the committee's chair?said: 'With a bulge in the population now arriving at secondary school level, it’s essential we have a teaching workforce that feels respected and rewarded, or else the shortfalls in key subjects will deepen.'

Jack Worth, the National Foundation for Educational Research’s school workforce lead, said the MPs were right to highlight the need for urgent action to address the worsening shortages and went on to say?'We welcome the [report’s] suggestion that government should prioritise resources in the next spending review to support a funded long-term strategy which reduces teacher shortages, including adequate funding for pay increases.'

FED's research shows?that long-term solutions need to be sought to many of these issues, but that initial first steps need to be taken to address the immediate pressures on the systems. As you will be aware, we have launched our?6 National Education Futures Projects.?

The Future of the Workforce specifically focusses on the recruitment and retention of all staff who work across all education sectors and will offer an incoming government both short and long-term solutions to this issue.

To support the fast paced times we live in, FED have decided to change the date of our 4th National Education Summit and change its focus -??to support an incoming government on it's first days in office to the lay the foundations for more strategic long-term planning.? So, do watch out in the coming weeks for a new date and more detail on?'First Steps for Change - towards a long-term plan for education'.

Last week we announced the?addition of?creativity to our innovation work -?The Future of Innovation and Creativity.?This addition has been extremely well received across our stakeholders. If you would like to become involved in this project please contact us at [email protected].

Remember to have your say on 'What our next Secretary of State for Education should prioritise' by completing our 5 survey questions, that will take you two minutes to complete. Click here to complete the survey?and please share this across your networks.

We are thrilled to announce a new event in partnership with?Hays Education on Wednesday 3rd July in Brighton. Join Sir Anthony Seldon FRSA?and fellow school and college leaders for a breakfast seminar on wellbeing and educational leadership.?Book your place by emailing Ryan at?[email protected].

Remember to?with?Dame Rachel De Souza, The Children’s Commissioner, and?Dame Alison Peacock, The Chief Executive of the Chartered College of Teaching for the?online launch of the?The Climate & Sustainability Toolkit?on June 3rd.