Teacher shortage is '˜damaging children's education', union warns

Teachers are being asked to take lessons that are not their specialist subject, and schools are being forced to use more supply staff and merge classes due to recruitment difficulties, according to the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL).

The findings, published ahead of the union’s annual conference in Birmingham, come just weeks after the National Audit Office warned there is a growing teacher shortage in England.

In total, nearly nine in 10 (89.3 per cent) of the almost 900 union members surveyed said they are experiencing difficulties in finding teachers.

Almost three in four (72.9 per cent) said the problem is worse than it was 12 months ago, with nearly a quarter (23.9 per cent) saying it is “much worse”.

The vast majority (84.1 per cent) said the recruitment situation at their schools is having a detrimental impact on the education they are able to provide.

Schools are struggling the most to recruit staff to teach the core academic subjects of maths, English and science, the poll found, with some facing difficulties in attracting languages, geography and history teachers.

Seven in 10 of the school leaders questioned (70.1 per cent) said are having to use more supply staff, while a similar proportion (72.8 per cent) said they have lessons being taught by teachers who are not specialists in the subject.

Nearly one in four (24.6 per cent) had merged classes.

Other action to deal with shortages included more lessons being taught by the headteacher or deputy head, and working with other schools to recruit and share staff.

Malcolm Trobe, interim general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “Teacher shortages leave schools with no option other than to use stop-gap solutions. Schools have to put teachers in front of classes. If they cannot recruit the staff they need, this means using supply staff and non-specialists to cover the gaps.

“While these staff often do a very good job in difficult circumstances, it is no substitute for having permanent teachers who are experts in their subjects. Without this supply of teachers there is a danger that some of the progress which has been made will be lost. It will certainly be extremely difficult if not impossible to raise standards further.

“We are calling on the Government to do more to promote and incentivise teaching as a career. We would be very happy to work with ministers on an action plan.”

:: The survey questioned 884 ASCL members in January.

A Department for Education spokeswoman said: “As part of our drive to achieve educational excellence everywhere, we want all schools to be able to recruit high-quality teachers.

“The Government is investing hundreds of millions in teacher recruitment, offering generous bursaries and scholarships in Stem subjects, plus backing schemes like Teach First and the National Teaching Service to get great teachers where they’re most needed - and why we’ve given schools unprecedented freedom over staff pay, allowing them to attract the brightest and the best.

“We are committed to raising the status of teaching and want to work with ASCL and the profession to make it an attractive career choice.”