We support new recommendations urging Department for Education to address critical workforce gaps
The latest inquiry report from the Public Accounts Committee calls for the government to look at teacher pay and working conditions. The recommendations in the report are aimed at tackling teacher shortages in schools and colleges across England.
EngineeringUK responded to the inquiry, offering insight into the requirements of England's education system to fill future workforce skills gaps. In total there were 25 contributors to the inquiry, including the Institute of Physics, STEM Learning UK and the Gatsby Foundation.
The report calls for a transparent roadmap to deliver the government’s pledge of 6,500 additional teachers, setting out how this will be split across schools and colleges, and how progress will be tracked. In addition, assurances need to be made to make sure teacher retention is improved, alongside recruitment.
This echoes EngineeringUK’s policy asks of the UK government, as well as findings in our latest School Report. The report, published last week, revealed 30% of secondary school STEM teachers in England indicated there was a vacancy in their department at their school. Reported impacts of teacher vacancies were students being taught by non-specialist teachers, increased workload, and increased reliance on substitute teachers.
The School Report also highlights issues present in teacher retention. 37% of teachers reported that they either didn’t see themselves (19%) or didn’t know if they saw themselves teaching in 5 years’ time (19%).
We therefore welcome calls for a deepened understanding of why teachers leave the profession. The sixth recommendation in the PAC report asks for an assessment of the effectiveness of pay against other recruitment and retention initiatives, to make an explicit decision on whether it needs to do more to ensure teachers are paid the right amount.
Beatrice Barleon, Head of Public Affairs at EngineeringUK, comments on the PAC recommendations:
“We welcome the publication of the Public Accounts Committee’s final report, following its inquiry on teacher recruitment and retention. The report rightly raises some of the key issues that we put forward in our submission – including the need for a stronger professional development offer, improved contractual and working conditions such as greater flexibility, and action to reduce teacher workload."
Read EngineeringUK's submission
We welcome the publication of the Public Accounts Committee’s final report, following its inquiry on teacher recruitment and retention. The report rightly raises some of the key issues that we put forward in our submission – including the need for a stronger professional development offer, improved contractual and working conditions such as greater flexibility, and action to reduce teacher workload.
— Beatrice Barelon, Head of Public Affairs, EngineeringUK
