Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made on the impact of (a) Early Career Framework and (b) Core Content Framework on teacher recruitment and retention targets.

Initial Teacher Training (ITT) recruitment targets are calculated using analysis from the Teacher Workforce Model (TWM). The TWM uses different sources to calculate these targets, including data regarding the composition of the teacher workforce and curriculum taught in secondary schools, returner and leaver rates, historic recruitment performance, and the latest data and assumptions on future recruitment and retention of teachers. The TWM considers the cumulative effect of these factors, and they can act to increase or decrease recruitment targets compared to an earlier year.

Since September 2020, all new teachers benefit from at least three years of evidence based professional development and support, starting with ITT based on the Core Content Framework (CCF), and followed by a new two year induction underpinned by the Early Career Framework (ECF). These reforms help teachers and school leaders in every phase and subject to feel more confident and in control of their careers.

The ITT CCF does not directly relate to recruitment targets and the TWM. It sets out at the point of course development a minimum entitlement of knowledge, skills, and experiences that trainees need to enter the profession to teach and support children and young people.

Early Career Framework (ECF) reforms were rolled out nationally in September 2021, entitling all early career teachers (ECTs) in England to access high quality professional development at the start of their career.

The ECF reforms increased the statutory induction period from one academic year to two academic years and were designed to help teachers feel more confident at the start of their career.

ECF reforms ensure consistent professional development and support for ECTs. It is an evidence based approach designed to ensure ECTs focus on the things that make the most difference in the classroom and in their professional practice.

The Department has commissioned an independent evaluation of the national roll out of the ECF induction. This investigates participants’ views on the programme and their perceived impact on retention. Findings from the first year of ECF delivery will be published in due course and will report on ECTs’ intentions to stay in teaching.

In summer 2023, the Department will publish the annual school workforce census statistics, which will show how the proportion of ECTs retained after one year has changed since the national rollout of ECF. In summer 2024, these statistics will show how many ECTs were retained following completion of their induction.