Stephen Morgan MP raised concerns during departmental education questions this week over Government’s expected failure to meet its secondary school teacher recruitment target.
Estimates based on the latest data published by the Department for Education suggest that recruitment of secondary school teachers is set for a shortfall of 34 percentage points, or 7,042 secondary trainees.
It comes as teacher vacancies have risen by over 1,100 in the last decade, with more than 1,500 teaching posts now unfilled and an additional 2,000 being covered by temporary staff.
The government has missed its teacher recruitment target for six of the last seven years, and is on course to miss it once again this year, especially in priority STEM subjects.
The Shadow Schools Minister and Member of Parliament for Portsmouth South, Stephen Morgan, said:
“This government has no ambition for the futures of children across Portsmouth and the country.
“The Conservatives’ mismanagement of education is driving teachers from their classrooms leaving pupils without the support they need to thrive. And it’s only getting worse.
“Labour will end tax breaks for private schools and invest that money in teacher recruitment and retention so our brilliant school staff can thrive with the training and support they need to help every child succeed.”
Labour has announced it will launch a National Excellence Programme in Government – the most ambitious school improvement plan in a generation. This will boost the number of outstanding schools across the country and drive-up standards to make sure every child can achieve their full potential.
The party would give leaders and teachers access to continuing professional development and support new headteachers with an excellence in leadership programme to make sure they are equipped with the skills they need to lead outstanding schools.
