Are schools facing a shortage of teachers?
Our survey shows that over a third (37%) of schools are facing a
shortage of teachers – and even in some schools where teaching
posts are filled, leaders found recruiting and retaining teachers difficult
to manage in the 12 months preceding our survey. More than six in
10 (62%) school leaders experienced this problem, and nearly one in
five (19%) expects it to be the biggest challenge over the next year –
second only to budget pressures.
It is also more acute in secondary settings. Just over a third (35%) of
primary leaders say that their school is facing a shortage of teachers,
in comparison to almost half (49%) of secondary school leaders. It
is little surprise, then, that recruiting and retaining teachers has also
been a particular challenge for secondary settings. Almost eight in
10 (76%) secondary school leaders found teacher recruitment and
retention difficult to manage over the past 12 months, in comparison
to six in 10 (59%) leaders in primary schools.
Yes
65%
51%
No
No
49%
Yes
Secondary
North East*
21%
Midlands
40%
East of England
56%
37%
Yorkshire
and Humberside
London
26%
South West
Is your school facing a shortage of teachers?
Primary
37%
17%
North West
The problem appears most acute in London, with more than half
(56%) of the capital’s school leaders stating that they are facing a
shortage of teachers. The picture is similar in the south east, with
reported teacher shortages in 50% of schools.
35%
Is your school facing a shortage of teachers?
(% who said yes)
50%
South East
*Please note that fewer than 100 respondents from the north east completed the survey.
Findings for this region should be treated with caution.
28
State of Education Survey 2016 | www.thekeysupport.com
Find further comment at www.thekeysupport.com/blog