By Eniola Amadu
An increase in the figures of new graduates registering to become teachers has increased the government’s capability to meet important recruitment targets in maths and sciences subjects.
According to recent statistics from the Department for Education (DfE), an increase of 11% was recorded this year in the number of teacher trainees compared to 2024.
The administration had reduced its predicted targeted number of teachers it would need due to the numbers of failing students; however, there was still an increase in the enrolments of primary school teachers.
Last year, the government met only 90% of its recruitment target for primary school teachers, but this year it exceeded the goal, reaching 126%.
Recruitment for secondary teachers also improved, rising from 61% of the Department for Education’s target in 2024 to 88% this year.
There was a major increase in science, technology and maths (Stem) subjects, where 107% of the target was met, compared with just 60% the previous year.
Maths recruited 2,588 trainees – a 16% rise – while physics attracted 1,086 trainees, the highest number since records began in 2014-15.
Modern foreign languages, a subject that has long struggled with shortages, reached 93% of its target.
Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said, “[These] figures are further evidence of the strong progress in teacher recruitment after years of crisis, with growth in critical Stem subjects particularly encouraging as we work to give more children the skills and knowledge to succeed.
“It means more young people getting the expert teaching they deserve, learning from teachers who love their subject and know how to bring it alive in the classroom.”
This increase boosts the administration’s chances of fulfilling its manifesto vow for an additional 6,500 teachers for state schools, and more than 2,300 additional secondary and special school teachers in 2024-25.
However, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, Pepe Di’Iasio, warned that many schools were still facing staff shortages.
Di’Iasio said: “The government cannot afford to rest on their laurels and think that one year of slightly better recruitment can fix such a widespread problem.
“We need to see sustained growth over many years. This will require improvements to pay and conditions in order to attract greater numbers of people into teaching and to keep them there.”
The general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, Matt Wrack, said: “The government’s proposed reforms to the immigration system could jeopardise this source of talent and make recruiting sufficient numbers of new teachers even tougher in the future.
“Preserving continued opportunities for these skilled and much-needed professionals to train and work in the UK will be essential as the reforms are developed.”
