Norfolk teacher warns curriculum will "narrow" without better recruitment and retention
An education charity is warning the "critical state" of staffing levels is posing a "substantial risk" to the quality of education
A primary school teacher in Norfolk is warning that pupils and parents will see the curriculum narrow - if more's not done to tackle the recruitment and retention of teachers.
It follows a report from an education charity which warns the "critical state" of staffing levels is posing a "substantial risk" to the quality of education children are getting.
"Well below their expected recruitment numbers"
Scott Lyons works in Norwich, and is also part of the National Education Union:
"People do not see teaching as a financially viable option. Added to that is the status of secondary schools, where parents are going on social media to voice their issues instead of going and talking to teachers themselves.
"The last time the Government hit its recruitment targets was 2015.
"Since then they've been hitting well below their expected recruitment numbers.
"Last year it was 40% below the overall target, and in Physics it was 83% below, Technology, 73% below, Foreign Languages, 67% and Computing, 64%."
"There'll be a flood of teachers leaving challenging schools"
Scott says specialist staff are being moved around to cover gaps:
"I was speaking to a teacher last night and he's now teaching Maths lessons just because he's got the minimum qualifications to do so. This is going to happening more and more, where you find staff teaching outside of their specialism.
"If nothing is done here there'll be a flood of teachers leaving challenging schools to go to other ones that can offer better pay and conditions. Something that's only going to put a greater strain on those who need help the mos.
"You won't be able to have that option of a music or technology teacher. Some schools are already offering just French when it comes to foreign languages. It means there could be a very narrow curriculum of Maths, English, Science and a Humanity subject."
The report in more detail:
Research from The National Foundation for Educational Research found that ambitious and "radical" actions are urgently needed to get more people into teaching.
NFER said this should include a "pay premium" to compensate for the lack of remote and hybrid working opportunities in their jobs, compared with other graduates.
It comes after figures in December showed just 50% of the Government's initial teacher training target (ITT) for secondary school subjects was reached in 2023/24, down from 57% in 2022/23.
What's the Government said?
The Government say they're investing £1.5 million into easing teacher's workload, preventing bullying in the staff-room and increasing mental health support.