Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the targeted increase of 6,500 more teachers recruited to teach key subjects means a net increase in the full-time equivalent number of teachers teaching those subjects, in post in secondary schools; what the subjects are; what her planned timescale is for reaching that target; and whether she has a target for other subjects over the same period.

The department knows that high quality teaching is the factor that makes the biggest difference to a child’s education, which is why this government will recruit 6,500 new expert teachers.

The department is developing its approach and putting plans in place to achieve this, which will be shared publicly in due course. These measures will include getting more teachers into shortage subjects, supporting areas that face recruitment challenges and tackling retention issues. The way bursaries are allocated, and the structure of retention payments, will also be reviewed.

The department has taken a key step towards delivering an additional 6,500 teachers by accepting the School Teachers’ Review Body recommendation of a 5.5% award for teachers and leaders in maintained schools in England from September.

This is a substantial award that recognises hard-working school teachers and leaders, and demonstrates this government’s commitment to the teaching profession.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has already addressed over 14,000 people from the workforce, is expanding the teacher recruitment campaign ‘Every Lesson Shapes a Life’, and has committed to working alongside 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 wish to join.