Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Teachers: Recruitment and Retention

Monday 12 June 2023 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Teachers left the profession at a rate of 44,000 last year, representing a 9.7% loss.
  • The Government report returning to pre-pandemic levels of teacher recruitment.
  • Workload reduction efforts have led to a five-hour decrease in weekly teaching hours.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Tan Dhesi Lab Slough
Education
Context

The question follows the publication of data showing a rise in teacher leavers, highlighting real-term pay cuts and unmanageable workloads as significant factors. The number of teachers leaving the profession is at its highest since 2018.

Question

I am concerned about the steps being taken to improve recruitment and retention among teachers given that there were 44,000 leavers last year, representing a 9.7% loss from the total workforce. The Government have missed secondary teacher recruitment targets for ten years except one instance. What urgent action is planned to fix this crisis?

Answer from Nick Gibb

Looking at the tables attached to the school workforce census, we have returned to pre-pandemic levels of recruitment. Over a period of years, the number of teachers coming into state-funded schools and those leaving are broadly similar.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for urgent actions to address the crisis was not directly addressed; instead, it highlighted that teacher numbers have returned to pre-pandemic levels and that overall patterns over years suggest stability in recruitment and retention rates despite annual figures showing high leaver rates.

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Q2 Kate Osborne Lab Jarrow and Gateshead East
Education Employment
Context

The Minister has acknowledged data showing a rise in unmanageable workloads and teacher leavers. The NASUWT North East and the South Tyneside branch of the National Education Union raised concerns about the recruitment and retention crisis.

Question

Last week, I met with NASUWT North East and the South Tyneside branch of the National Education Union which expressed concern over real-term pay cuts and unmanageable workloads leading to an unacceptable rise in vacant teaching posts. When will action be taken on these issues by increasing teachers' pay and reducing their workload?

Answer from Nick Gibb

We are currently considering the School Teachers Review Body's recommendations regarding teachers' pay. In terms of workload, we have established three important workload working groups which have led to a reduction in weekly teaching hours by five hours over recent years.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked for specific timelines and concrete actions on both teacher salaries and workload issues; however, the answer focused more on general measures that have been taken without specifics on future commitments or action plans.

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Q3 Tan Dhesi Lab Slough
Education
Context

There has been a debate about the use of terms like 'sir' or 'miss'. The Minister was asked for his opinion on this matter.

Question

The abandonment of respectful titles such as 'sir' will not help, will it? Is there any consideration to substitute with alternatives like 'ma'am', which is fitting for formal address?

Answer from Nick Gibb

My right hon. Friend should not believe everything he reads in newspapers about behaviour in schools. We have established behaviour hubs around the country to spread best practice.

Not addressed: The question was specifically on the use of respectful titles, but the answer instead addressed the general improvement of school behavior through existing initiatives.

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Q4 Desmond Swayne Con New Forest West
Education
Context

The Department recently celebrated the latest teacher recruitment and retention data, which showed that last year saw the highest number of teachers leaving since records began at 40,000.

Question

Given that over 40,000 teachers left the profession last year—the highest figure recorded—does it really seem appropriate to celebrate these figures?

Answer from Nick Gibb

The number of teachers leaving last year, at 44,000, compares similarly to the figure from 2010-11. Despite creating an extra one million school places over the past years, the pupil-to-teacher ratio has remained stable.

Partly answered

Not addressed: While addressing comparisons and trends in teacher numbers, it did not directly address the appropriateness of celebrating recruitment figures when faced with high leaver rates. It highlighted patterns without providing a direct response to whether celebration is appropriate given current circumstances.

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Q5 Stephen Morgan Lab Portsmouth South
Education
Context

The previous question raised the issue of high teacher leaver rates, with 44,000 teachers leaving last year. There is concern about Government failure to meet secondary teacher recruitment targets for ten years except one.

Question

With 9.7% of teachers leaving their profession last year and only meeting secondary teacher recruitment targets once in the past decade, what urgent actions are being taken by the Government to address this crisis?

Answer from Nick Gibb

If he looks at the tables attached to the school workforce census, he would see that the number of teachers entering state-funded schools has returned to pre-pandemic levels. The patterns over years show similar numbers coming in and leaving.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner requested urgent steps but received a response highlighting long-term stability without addressing the immediate crisis or providing new commitments.

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