The job market remains subdued. In the first three months up to the start of April, the only buoyant area has been the demand for headteachers.
Sadly, that is not a grade most readers will be aspiring to attain next year.
Elsewhere, fewer than 1,000 basic scale primary jobs have been advertised nationally. However, many more will have been sourced through local “pool” arrangements. Nevertheless, there is a story of a school receiving several hundred requests for applications for a single primary classroom teacher post. This compares with some schools that don’t attract any applicants for their headship.
In the secondary sector, the big three are, as ever, mathematics (approaching 2,000 adverts) where demand may well continue to exceed supply; English with more than 1,600 adverts; and the sciences with nearly 1,600 general posts and approaching 500 specialist posts advertised just in the state sector.
Physical education and sports is the only other subject area to have breached the 1,000 advert mark during the first quarter. However, more than 900 ICT jobs have been advertised along with more than 800 in design and technology. There have been fewer than 700 adverts for modern languages teachers, perhaps reflecting the shift in the key stage 4 curriculum.
London and the South remain the areas where there are more likely to be jobs available, and many schools are still increasing their rolls.
Elsewhere, falling rolls are depressing job chances and schools will see their budgets in decline in real terms.
April and May will be key months for job opportunities. The prospect is more of the same with a steady and unspectacular job market and real problems for the extra trainees in the primary sector who graduate this summer.
John Howson
