More than nine in 10 schools find it difficult to recruit, according to a new survey, with chiefs warning that educational standards “could be compromised.”
The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) surveyed 766 state school and college heads and found that 95% experienced difficulties recruiting staff, while 43% said the problem was “serious.”
Seven in 10 (72%) heads said they used staff to fill vacancies, with 69% saying they used teachers who weren’t subject specialists in their classes, while 31% reported class sizes getting bigger to address the problem. to grab.
Heads most often cited physics as a difficult subject to recruit, followed by math, design and technology, chemistry, and computer science.
schools also reported that teacher retention was an issue, with nearly two-thirds (65%) of principals saying they struggled to retain staff.
The most frequently cited reasons for this were the workload, which according to the ASCL was caused by: Government underfunding of schools, an “excessive” accountability system and wage levels.
Nine in ten schools (92%) also said they had found it difficult to recruit support staff, which presented them with significant challenges.
The survey was conducted ahead of the expected 2022/23 teacher salary recommendation for the end of the summer term.
Without sufficient numbers it is difficult to see how the government’s goals to raise literacy standards could possibly be achieved
The Ministry of Education has proposed a 9% pay increase for beginning teachers, but a two-year pay of 3%, followed by 2% for more experienced staff.
The ASCL stressed that this was “significantly lower” than inflation of 11.7% after a wage freeze during the current academic year.
Geoff BartonASCL general secretary, said: “The recruitment and retention of teachers has been extremely difficult for many years, but our research shows that it is currently at a crisis point.
“Many schools and colleges have no choice but to close the gaps with supply staff and non-subject specialists.
Twelve years of conservative government, two years of pandemic chaos and unsustainable workloads undermine the passion that drives people to the profession
“In several cases they have had to enlarge the classes or remove the choice of subjects. The crisis extends to support staff where recruitment is also very difficult.
“Teaching and support staff are the lifeblood of the education system. Without sufficient numbers, it is difficult to see how the government’s goals to raise literacy standards could possibly be achieved.
“In fact, despite the best efforts of schools and colleges, current educational standards may even be compromised.”
Shadow Schools Secretary Stephen Morgan said: “This chaotic, rudderless government is sleepwalking into an education crisis, pumping talent out of our schools and limiting children’s learning and development.”
“Twelve years of conservative government, two years of pandemic chaos and unsustainable workloads are undermining the passion that drives people to the profession.
†labor would place 6,500 new teachers in classrooms across the country and empower them with the training and support they need to deliver excellence in every school.”