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The School Teacher Labour Market in England Annual Report 2026
Date: 2026
Author/s: Jack Worth and Michael Scott, National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER)
Keywords: ITT recruitment; falling pupil numbers; partial improvement; secondary subject shortages

Summary:

NFER’s comprehensive annual report analyses teacher recruitment and retention trends across all school phases. Key findings show some improvement in recruitment into initial teacher training, most likely driven by deteriorating wider employment opportunities. Secondary recruitment remains below target. There is partial improvement in teacher recruitment and retention compared with previous reports, but the report warns against complacency. Falling pupil numbers are projected to reduce the numbers of teachers required in the secondary phase, but there are still shortages in some subjects and historic reductions in the number of subject specialists in some areas have not been reduced.

Reference: Worth, J. and Scott, M. (2026). The School Teacher Labour Market in England Annual Report 2026. Slough: NFER
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