The international crisis of teacher supply

There is an international crisis in teacher supply. The Department of Education’s (then DCSF) research from 2010 (Hutchings) demonstrated that teaching may be attractive during an economic crisis, but that economic recovery results in fewer trainee teacher applications and higher teacher attrition as private sector graduate jobs reopen.

This has happened during the Covid-19 pandemic. In England during the initial phase of the pandemic there were increased applications for Initial Teacher Training (ITT). Any optimism for a healthy teacher supply as we emerge from pandemic restrictions has not been met. ITT applications are down and secondary school student numbers are increasing.

Add to this the lowest funding to schools for 40 years in real terms and an absence of the promised teacher pay rise (IfFS, 2021) and the challenge of teacher recruitment and retention becomes clear. This picture is reflected internationally.

The pandemic is not a panacea for teaching shortages - it could be considered instead a catalyst for increased attrition as schools face increasing challenges to support educational recovery.

This event will be particularly useful for those interested in teacher retention and teacher recruitment.

Links

• Tweet with #EducatingTeachersMatters
• Educating Teachers Matters seminar series
• Centre for Teachers and Teaching Research
• Department of Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment
• Department of Learning and Leadership