Number of teachers in England’s state schools continues to decline

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According to The Guardian, school workforce census, there are 466,300 teachers currently working in state schools across England. This represents a decline of more than 1,900 compared with the previous year, largely due to falling teacher numbers in mainstream primary and secondary schools. However, the Department for Education said the government remains on track to fulfil its pledge to recruit an additional 6,500 teachers during the current parliamentary term. The department noted increases in the number of teachers working with pupils with special educational needs, staff in pupil referral units, and further education teachers teaching students up to the age of 18. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

“We are making real progress in the areas where it is needed most. More than two-thirds of our commitment to recruit 6,500 additional teachers has already been achieved. Fewer teachers are leaving the profession than at any point on record, and more people are choosing to build long and rewarding careers in teaching.” Nevertheless, Department for Education data show that the number of people entering the profession is at its lowest level for at least 15 years. This year, 41,000 new and returning teachers joined state schools, compared with 51,000 a decade ago. Labour's 2024 election manifesto included a pledge to recruit 6,500 new teachers in key subjects, funded by ending tax breaks for private schools. The Department for Education said that, compared with its 2023 baseline, there has been a net increase of 4,600 teachers, excluding primary school teachers. This includes 1,000 additional secondary school teachers and around 2,000 teachers working in special education and pupil referral units. The department also included an additional 1,600 further education teachers in its calculations, although official figures have not yet been published.

Jack Worth, Education Workforce Lead at the National Foundation for Educational Research, said the department's figures also include 2,300 additional teachers recorded in November 2024. Since this was only a few months after Labour came to power, he argued that it is highly unlikely that government policies could have had a significant impact on those figures. The school census also revealed that the number of pupils receiving free school meals has increased by a further 45,000, bringing the total to more than 2.2 million. As a result, 26.5% of all pupils are now eligible for the programme. The highest rate was recorded in the North East of England, where one in three pupils qualifies for free school meals. The figure stands at 31% in the West Midlands, while in the East and South East of England it is 21%.