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News - 15-05-2024 - - 0 comments
Educators demand action on teacher recruitment

As a leading recruitment agency specialising in education, we firmly believe that addressing the teacher recruitment crisis requires a strategic and comprehensive approach. The recent revelations about Government initiatives like the partnership with the Scouts Association and the armed forces veterans scheme, underscore the need for a more robust and effective response.

 

While it's commendable that the Department for Education (DfE) is exploring alternative avenues to attract potential teachers, the impact of these schemes appears to be minimal at best. The Scout Association partnership, aimed at inspiring 14 to 18-year-olds to consider a teaching career, has been met with scepticism by education experts. Sir Andrew Carter, chief executive at South Farnham Educational Trust, described the initiative as "a bit ridiculous," although he acknowledged the need for a "propaganda parade" to promote the benefits of teaching.

 

Similarly, the £40,000 bursaries offered to armed forces veterans who retrain as teachers have yielded disappointing results. A recent Freedom of Information request revealed that only 12 veterans have received these bursaries since 2019, amounting to a mere £420,000 in total if all participants complete their courses. This outcome falls far short of the DfE's ambitious claims that veterans' "unrivalled life experiences and world-class skills" would "motivate and inspire a generation of children."

 

Pepe Di'Iasio, the new general secretary of the ASCL school leaders' union, rightly criticised these "pitifully small schemes," arguing that they "do not even begin to scratch the surface of what is required." With only half of the required number of trainee secondary teachers recruited last year and persistent shortages across various subject areas, it's clear that a more comprehensive approach is necessary.

 

We believe that the key to tackling the teacher recruitment and retention crisis lies in addressing the fundamental issues of pay and workload. While working with a specialist agency like us can help you win the war for the best teachers, the war will continue to rage until teaching is brought in line with other graduate professions in terms of compensation and work-life balance. This demands decisive government action.

 

Although the DfE's efforts to explore alternative recruitment channels are laudable, it's crucial that they prioritise initiatives that will have a meaningful impact. Piecemeal approaches and small-scale schemes, however well-intentioned, are unlikely to shift the dial in the face of such a significant challenge.

 

We call upon the government to demonstrate a sense of urgency in addressing the teacher recruitment and retention crisis. The upcoming update to the DfE's 2019 recruitment and retention strategy presents an opportunity to develop a comprehensive, evidence-based plan that tackles the root causes of the problem head-on.

 

We’re here to support schools and colleges in their efforts to attract and retain the best educators for our children's future. By working together and focusing on impactful strategies, we can build a stronger, more resilient teaching workforce that will benefit generations to come.

 

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