Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish a breakdown by (a) region and (b) phase of education for the 6,500 expert specialist teachers.

The within-school and -college factor that makes the biggest difference to a child’s outcomes is high quality teaching. Although overall teacher numbers in state-funded schools in England have increased from 453,820 full-time equivalent (FTE) in November 2019 to 468,693 FTE in November 2023, teacher numbers have not kept pace with demand and there are currently shortages of qualified teachers across the country. That is why this government will work with the sector to deliver its pledge to recruit 6,500 additional teachers across schools and colleges over the course of this parliament to raise standards for children and young people and deliver the government’s mission to break down the barriers to opportunity at every stage.

The department will share further details of the plans for delivery in due course. These measures will include getting more teachers into shortage subjects, supporting areas that face recruitment challenges, and tackling retention issues.

The department has already made good early progress towards this key pledge by ensuring teaching is once again an attractive and respected profession. The department has accepted in full the School Teachers’ Review Body’s recommendation of a 5.5% pay award for teachers and leaders in maintained schools, which is effective from September. The requirement for performance related pay has also been removed.

To aid retention, eligible early career teachers in priority science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and technical subjects will be able to claim targeted retention incentive payments worth up to £6,000 after tax from 14 October, with payments made available to college teachers in key STEM and technical subjects for the first time.

Alongside this, the department is also supporting teachers to improve their workload and wellbeing, including opportunities for greater flexible working. Teachers are now allowed to undertake planning, preparation and assessment (PPA) time remotely and the department is also delivering a programme focused on embedding flexible working in schools and multi-academy trusts (MATs). This includes the delivery of supportive webinars and peer support provided by flexible working ambassador schools and MATs. ​Additionally, the department has made available a range of resources to help address teacher workload and wellbeing, including its ‘Improve workload and wellbeing for school staff’ service and the ‘education staff wellbeing charter’.

The department has also expanded the school teacher recruitment campaign, entitled ‘Every Lesson Shapes a Life’, and the Further Education teacher recruitment campaign ‘Share your Skills’.

The department is dedicated to working in partnership with the sector to re-establish teaching as an attractive profession and as one that existing teachers want to remain in, former teachers want to return to and new graduates and industry professionals wish to join.

My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced a Budget on 30 October to be followed by a multi-year Spending Review in the spring of next year. Decisions about future funding will be subject to the outcomes of these fiscal events.