The scale of the recruitment and retention crisis was laid bare this week, with new research suggesting that secondary vacancies have hit record levels and a “desperate” government offering foreign teachers £10,000 to come to England to help plug the gaps.
Secondary schools are finding it “harder than ever” to recruit, warned SchoolDash, with the number of jobs advertised between September and the end of February 25 per cent higher than during the same period before the pandemic.
The Department for Education’s financial incentive to attract overseas teachers of languages and physics was described by one union leader as “a sign of desperation from the government because of its failure to attract anything like the required number of home-grown trainees”.
Meanwhile, ministers were accused of not being “serious” about talks to end the pay dispute, and Ofsted came under fire over its decision to start inspections on a Monday next week to avoid planned teacher strike action.
Catch up on all your must-read Tes content from the past seven days right here:
- Secondary school vacancies ‘higher than ever’
Secondary school job vacancies have soared to their highest levels for at least six years and show “no sign of slowing”, experts have warned.
- Non-UK teachers offered £10k to move to England
The government will offer non-UK trainees and teachers of languages and physics £10,000 to relocate to England as part of a new pilot scheme launching this autumn.
- Stop ‘trading in fatuous soundbites’, Keegan told
A headteachers’ leader has urged education secretary Gillian Keegan to stop “trading fatuous soundbites” and put forward a pay offer that brings an end to the ongoing teacher strikes.
- Call for urgent teacher pay talks ahead of Budget
The NASUWT teaching union has made a plea for urgent pay talks ahead of the Budget being delivered next week, warning its members’ patience is “being tested to the limit”.
- Teacher strikes: DfE ‘refused’ pay mediation talks offer
The government is “not serious about finding ways” of resolving the teacher pay dispute, teachers’ and heads’ leaders have said after claiming their attempt to break the current deadlock had been rejected by ministers.
- Will there be more strikes in the summer?
The NEU teaching union has warned there could be further strikes in the summer term if there is no progress in pay talks with the government. Matilda Martin asked government policy experts how likely it is that we will see further industrial action.
- Ofsted chief: Complaints process not ‘satisfying’ schools
Ofsted knows its complaints process is “not satisfying” schools and it is reviewing how it can address concerns about disputed grades, chief inspector Amanda Spielman has said.
- Ofsted to swerve strikes with Monday inspections
Ofsted’s decision to start inspections on a Monday, which it doesn’t normally do, next week (13 March) to avoid the planned two-day national teacher strike has raised fears about staff wellbeing.
- Ofsted inspectors’ strike plan ‘concern’
Senior Ofsted inspectors have “significant concerns” about the watchdog’s plan to start school visits on a Monday next week to avoid planned strikes, according to the FDA union.
- Sunak steps in over RSE row
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has asked the DfE to “ensure that schools are not teaching inappropriate or contested content” in relationships and sex education, saying the government will “bring forward” a planned review of how RSE is being taught in schools.
- Teachers ‘papering over the cracks’ in mental health support
Teachers are having to “paper over the cracks” left by failings in mental health services for students, school leaders have warned after the publication of a scathing report by the children’s commissioner.
- Biggest primary MAT announces GAG pooling plans
REAch2 Academy Trust, one of the country’s biggest MATs, has announced plans to centralise the funding and reserves of its 60 schools.
- 10 MATs lined up to run attendance hubs
Up to 10 multi-academy trusts are lined up to establish attendance hubs after the education secretary urged sector leaders to get involved, Tes has learned.
- Sats results delay ‘disappointing’ and ‘avoidable’
School leaders have warned the delay of Sats results by one week, as a result of the extra bank holiday for the King’s coronation, will have a “negative impact on schools”.
- Schools miscode absence to dodge scrutiny on managed moves, MPs told
There is inconsistency over how schools are applying the “B code” to record absent pupils, with some using it to avoid scrutiny of managed moves, MPs have heard.
- What’s the best way to develop your future school leaders?
With schools facing a shortage of leaders, a special expert Tes webinar looks at what schools and trusts can do to identify future leaders and nurture them for future roles.
