Tackling the Teacher Workforce Challenge
Nuffield Foundation
An independent charitable trust: we fund research that changes people’s lives
Teachers are essential to children's educational outcomes and experience in school. Yet ongoing issues with the #TeacherWorkforce threaten this vital component of our education system. As part of our #BackToSchool series, let’s see what research tells us about the challenges and potential solutions.
The #TeacherWorkforce is facing intense stress, with National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) projecting secondary teacher recruitment to reach only 61% of the official target - that's 10,000 short, with teacher attrition rates climbing. This impacts the quality of education and student outcomes.
Source: NFER blog | Teacher recruitment and retention crisis facing the incoming Secretary of State means significant decisions to make from day one
Under recruitment has led to #TeacherShortages, with #NuffieldFunded research finding nearly half of secondary senior leaders reporting non-specialists were teaching Maths as a means to mitigate the shortage.
Source: NFER report | Teacher supply and shortages: The implications of teacher supply challenges for schools and pupils
Further National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) research shows that, despite last year’s government increase, teacher pay has fallen significantly in real terms and lags behind earnings growth in the wider labour market.
Pay for experienced teachers was 12% lower in real terms than in 2010/11.
Source | NFER report: Teacher Labour Market in England Annual Report 2024
A widening ethnicity pay gap reveals structural inequalities. Other research from Education Support points to structural issues that affect teacher retention, including how discrimination impacts ethnic minority teachers’ well-being. Creating an inclusive environment where all teachers feel valued is crucial for improving retention.
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The stresses of teaching add to recruitment and retention issues. Research we funded by john jerrim from IOE - UCL's Faculty of Education and Society found that at the peak of the pandemic, headteacher anxiety levels more than doubled, with the desire to take up the position of headteacher also declining.
Research from James Zuccollo from Education Policy Institute also finds headteachers' effectiveness grows with experience. Much retention policy addresses early career teachers, but a greater focus on supporting heads to stay in post could mean better pupil results and better internal teacher retention at schools.
There is room for optimism though! Dawson McLean finds Gen Z fit the motivational profile of becoming future teachers, more so than Millennials. Commitments to ensuring teaching remains competitive in pay and workload could improve future recruitment.
Source: NFER blog | Shifting career motivations are not to blame for worsening teacher shortages
?? Interested in exploring these issues further? For in-depth insights and solutions, check out our recent event on the #TeacherWorkforce crisis. You can watch the recording and access research presentation slides and read-out from Programme Head Emily Tanner .
Interested in other issues facing schools? Check out our #BackToSchool research articles: