The number of teachers working in England’s state schools has declined for the second consecutive year, raising fresh concerns about staffing shortages despite government claims that its teacher recruitment targets are on track.
According to the latest school workforce census, England’s state schools now employ 466,300 teachers, a decrease of more than 1,900 compared to last year. The decline is largely attributed to falling teacher numbers in mainstream primary and secondary schools.
The development comes as the government insists it is making progress toward fulfilling its pledge to recruit 6,500 additional teachers during the current parliamentary term.
Government Defends Recruitment Progress
Defending the figures, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said significant gains had been made in key areas of the education sector.
“We’re making real progress where it’s needed most. More than two-thirds of our commitment to recruit 6,500 additional teachers has already been achieved, fewer teachers are leaving the profession than at any point on record, and more are choosing to build long-term careers in teaching,” she said.
The Department for Education (DfE) argued that growth in specialist sectors has offset declines elsewhere. According to the department, there has been a net increase of around 1,000 secondary school teachers, 2,000 special educational needs and pupil referral unit teachers, and an estimated 1,600 further education teachers.
Recruitment Concerns Persist
Despite the government’s optimism, the census revealed that teacher recruitment remains a challenge. Only 41,000 new and returning teachers joined state schools this year, compared to 51,000 a decade ago—the lowest level recorded in at least 15 years.
The General Secretary of the National Education Union, Daniel Kebede, criticised the government’s position, arguing that the overall reduction in teacher numbers undermines Labour’s promise to strengthen the education workforce.
He described the figures as “making a mockery” of the pledge to recruit 6,500 additional teachers, noting that newly qualified teacher recruitment has fallen to its lowest level since records began three decades ago.
Kebede urged the government to use declining pupil numbers as an opportunity to improve educational outcomes by increasing staffing levels and reducing class sizes.
Experts Question Government Calculations
Education analysts have also challenged the government’s interpretation of the data.
Jack Worth of the National Foundation for Educational Research noted that some of the additional teachers counted by the government were already in post shortly after Labour came to power in 2024, making it difficult to attribute those gains directly to current policies.
He warned that teacher shortages continue to affect key subjects, particularly mathematics, where one in six lessons for pupils aged 11 to 14 is still taught by non-specialist teachers.
Free School Meal Numbers Rise
The census also highlighted growing economic pressures on families across England.
The number of pupils eligible for free school meals has increased by another 45,000, bringing the total to more than 2.2 million children. As a result, 26.5 per cent of all pupils in England now qualify for the programme.
Regional disparities remain significant, with the North East recording the highest rate of eligibility, where one in every three pupils receives free school meals. The West Midlands follows closely at 31 per cent, while the East and South East of England report lower rates of around 21 per cent.
The latest figures are likely to intensify debate over teacher recruitment, classroom capacity, and education funding as the government seeks to deliver on its commitments to improve educational standards across England.
