The government has missed its teacher-training targets in all subjects except PE, history and primary teaching, according to statistics published today.

The overall numbers of people starting teacher training in 2017 has risen from last year, with 27,895 new entrants to postgraduate initial teacher training (ITT) courses in 2017-18, compared with 26,750 last year, according to the Department for Education.

But the only EBacc secondary subject to meet the expected number of trainees was history - with English having one in 10 places unfilled and maths having more than one in five places unfilled.

In PE, 1,125 trainees were recruited compared to a target of 999.

And primary recruitment also overshot its target with 12,905 trainees taken on, compared to a target of 12,121.

But all other subjects saw a shortfall - which was greatest in design and technology - where just a third of the 917 necessary would-be teachers started training this year.

Source: DfE ITT census

School standards minister Nick Gibb said: “There are now a record number of teachers in our schools - 15,500 more than in 2010 - and the fact that more than 32,000 new trainee teachers have been recruited in a competitive labour market, with historic low unemployment rates and a growing economy, shows that the profession continues to be an attractive career.

“These numbers build on last year’s figures, with 1,100 more graduates training to teach and the number of them holding a first-class degree now at record levels, meaning we’re attracting more of the best and brightest into our classrooms.

“Of course, we want these figures to continue to increase, which is why we recently announced generous bursaries and other financial incentives to encourage even more talented trainees to key subjects, such as maths and physics. This will help us to continue to deliver a world-class education to pupils, with latest figures showing 1.9 million more children now in good or outstanding schools than in 2010.”

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