Initial teacher training applications are down by 24 per cent compared with January last year, prompting warnings that the sector is facing ”a clear deterioration” in recruitment.
New Department for Education data reveals that the total number of applications in England by 17 January 2022 was 38,968 - a stark fall from the 51,510 recorded by Ucas this time a year ago.
The figures also reveal that recruitment levels are lower than in pre-pandemic years.
An expert analyst has told Tes that the government needs to act now to stop teacher shortages becoming a problem.
By January 2019, Ucas had recorded 40,960 applications in England, meaning this year’s number represents an 8 per cent decrease on two years ago.
Jack Worth, the school workforce lead at the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), said: “The latest ITT application figures show a clear deterioration in the recruitment situation compared to a year ago, with the numbers applying falling to below the numbers that were applying before the pandemic.
ITT applications: teacher supply ‘needs a shot in the arm’
“The government needs to give teacher supply a shot in the arm if it wants to prevent the teacher supply challenges of the last decade rapidly re-emerging.”
Mr Worth added that this “shot in the arm” should include a competitive set of teacher pay proposals to the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) “that support more teachers to join and stay in teaching”.
Teacher training applications had previously “surged” in 2020 during the economic downturn of the coronavirus pandemic, reaching an average of 566 applications a day in January 2021.
Mr Worth broke the latest figures down in a Twitter thread today:
The latest figures also reveal a total of 20,254 applications for secondary teaching - a 28 per cent drop from January 2021 (28,140).
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “We have taken a wide range of action to ensure that teaching remains an attractive and fulfilling profession.
“This includes a commitment to increasing starting salaries to £30,000 and reducing unnecessary workload, and investing £250 million in training opportunities across all stages of teachers’ careers.”
