Why is the government still failing to attract teachers?

Analysis: Eleanor Busby examines why graduates are still not choosing teaching despite concerted campaigns to boost numbers

A lack of qualified teachers in Stem subjects is likely to decrease the number of students taking these vital subjects (Getty)

The country still does not have enough trainee teachers. The government has pumped millions of pounds into a national recruitment campaign and has unveiled a series of measures to tackle shortages, and yet the picture remains bleak.

Most worryingly, the largest shortfalls are in science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) subjects despite a push to increase the number of students taking these courses at A-level and at degree level.

So why is the government repeatedly failing to hit recruitment targets? And what impact could it have?

Nearly a decade of austerity has frozen teachers’ pay and led to significant funding cuts in schools – forcing heads to axe jobs and subjects. So teaching has not been the most appealing profession to join.

Tales of excessive workload and low pay will have deterred many prospective teachers from signing up. In shortage subjects, like maths and physics, graduates appear to be seeking higher paid jobs elsewhere.

A lack of qualified teachers in Stem subjects is likely to decrease the number of students taking these vital subjects, exacerbating skill shortages and narrowing the pool of potential teachers further.

The government has tried to entice trainees with bursaries and scholarships worth up to £28,000 – where chemistry, languages, maths and physics trainees are offered the highest payments – but the figures show they haven’t driven up applications enough.

Education unions say a significant funding investment is needed in schools, and a larger pay rise for teachers, to seriously tackle the recruitment and retention crisis facing the profession. Especially as the numbers of secondary school pupils is expected to grow rapidly in the next few years.

Ahead of the general election, the Conservatives have announced plans to raise salaries for new teachers to £30,000 by 2022-23. They have also pledged to increase school funding by £7.1bn by 2022-23.

However, an analysis from the National Education Union found that the vast majority of constituencies will still be worse off in real-terms school funding in April than in 2015 even with this cash boost.

Labour has pledged to return public sector pay to at least pre-financial crisis levels, beginning with a five per cent increase. It has also said it will increase spending in England’s schools by £10.bn by 2022-23.

Whichever party wins the election, the recruitment and retention of teachers will need to be high on the agenda as significant change will be needed to reverse the damaging effects of austerity on the sector.