Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to encourage highly-qualified teachers to relocate to rural, coastal and more disadvantaged areas.

The Government is taking action in a number of different ways. The pay reforms that we have introduced since September 2013 give schools greater autonomy and more freedom to decide how much they pay teachers and how quickly pay progresses. Schools may also choose to use their pupil premium funding to attract or retain the best teachers. This increased flexibility gives schools in disadvantaged areas more scope to attract and recruit the high-quality teachers that they need to deliver outstanding education in the most challenging circumstances.

We are also increasing the number of high-achieving graduates teaching in disadvantaged schools by supporting the geographical expansion of Teach First into every region of England. This gives Teach First the scope to reach 90% of eligible schools by 2016, boosting the Government’s commitment to recruit more top teachers across England, including in more rural, coastal and disadvantaged areas.

Over the next two years the Government-funded Talented Leaders programme aims to match up 100 of the nation’s best school leaders with challenging schools in areas of the country that will benefit the most – predominantly in rural, coastal or deprived areas that are finding it difficult to attract great leaders. The School Direct programme also addresses local shortages by enabling schools to attract, train and develop the high-quality teachers and potential leaders that will drive school improvement.