Specialist secondary sector to support teacher shortages

There has been a teacher > student ratio decline over the years due to struggles in retaining staff and the lack of new qualified teachers. Pre COVID, the Department of Education (DfE) reported that only 85% of roles were filled in secondary. The situation is forecast to worsen in the coming years if something isn’t done.

Forecast is worrying

In 2012, a record number of 812,000 children were born, and from 2008-2013, a significant number born (partly due to high levels of immigration and people having children later in life). Primary schools can cope with these numbers; teachers fill most of the roles within this sector, but with the influx of 12-13-year olds moving through to secondary, the UK is totally unprepared.

Furthermore, between 2000-2001 this period saw low birth rates, meaning there are currently fewer 21-year-olds than ever - 3.8 million down, affecting the amounts of graduates taking teacher training qualifications, impacting the number of teachers coming into the industry. The current average age of teachers is 30 and above, and 1 in 3 are above 50 highlighting a potential teaching crisis in the next 20 years.

Unless strategic plans are in place, secondary education faces even more of an issue further afield; with the 2020-2021 lockdown baby boom, an even greater problem is coming long term.

Time to act

Recently, the government announced pay raises for teachers to help retain current teachers and offered an extra incentive of up to £9k for STEM teachers over three years to fill roles in disadvantaged areas.

How we can help

We recruit inspiring teachers - If you’re a secondary school looking for staff, or a teacher looking for your next role look no further.

We’re the go-to education recruitment specialists – connecting inspiring educators with schools and colleges in the UK FE, secondary, primary, independent and international education sectors. We have recently launched a specialist secondary sector to support you in filling and finding vacancies.

Visit ‘Find Inspiring Teachers’ or “Find the Best Teaching Jobs” for more info, or call our dedicated team on 0333 7777 615 and let us do the work for you.