DfE reports drop in newly qualified teachers working in state school system

The proportion of newly qualified teachers going on to work in England’s state schools has fallen to a record low, new data suggests.

Annual data on initial teacher training pathways released this morning shows the number of postgraduate teacher trainees rose from around 22,700 in 2023-24 to around 24,700 in 2024-25.

This marks the first increase since 2021-22, driven by an increase of over 2,000 in the number of secondary trainees.

However, the proportion securing qualified teacher status fell slightly, from 93 to 92 per cent.

The data also suggests the proportion of those achieving qualified teacher status (QTS) who then went on to work in England’s state schools dropped from 74 per cent in 2023-24, to just 71 per cent in 2024-25.

The remaining trainees will either have decided not to immediately go into teaching, or be teaching in private or international schools.

Teacher trainee stats from DfE — Source: DfE

The DfE estimated 16,035 postgraduate trainees went on to teach in a state school within 16 months of finishing the 2024-25 academic year.

This is a provisional estimate. Revised figures will be calculated next year, once workforce data is available.

But if the figures are correct, this will be the lowest percentage of trainees working in state schools since current data began in 2017-18.

Overseas trainees less likely to teach in state schools

For the first time, the annual data provides outcomes for trainees by nationality, back to 2018-19.It suggests trainees from overseas are less likely to go on to teach in England’s state schools.UK nationals continued to make up the vast majority of postgraduate teacher trainees in 2024-25, with 20,891 trainees, compared with 1,463 European Economic Area nationals, 1,396 of other nationalities, and 918 of unknown nationality.Postgraduates from the EEA had the highest QTS achievement rate, at 94 per cent, compared to other nationalities (93%), UK nationals (92%), and those of unknown nationality (85%).Of UK nationals, the proportion teaching in a state school within 16 months of gaining QTS fell from 75 per cent in 2023-24, to 72 per cent in 2024-25.Meanwhile, this rate for trainees of “other nationalities” was just 65 per cent in 2024-25. For EEA nationals it was 62 per cent, and for those with unknown nationality 69 per cent.The DfE said: “The lower employment rates for some nationality groups may reflect differences in post-training destinations and eligibility to work in state-funded schools in England, rather than differences in training outcomes alone.”

Employment of primary trainees falls

The number of secondary postgraduate trainees rose from 13,382 in 2023-24, to 15,455 in 2024-25.Meanwhile, primary trainees fell slightly from 9,378 in 2023-24, to 9,213.The proportion of primary trainees achieving QTS fell from 93 per cent to 92 per cent, resulting in fewer actually qualifying.Of those achieving QTS in 2024-25, the DfE estimates just 69 per cent were teaching in a state school within 16 months of the end of their course.This is a two percentage point drop from 71 per cent in 2023-24. If the estimate is correct, it would be the lowest since data began in 2017-18.Primary pupil numbers are currently in freefall as a population bulge caused by the 2000s baby boom makes its way through the school system.Secondary postgraduate trainees have had higher employment rates than primary trainees since 2019-20.In 2024-25, 92 per cent of secondary trainees gained QTS – a 1 percentage point fall from 2023-24 – while the proportion teaching in state schools is thought to have fallen from 75 per cent to 72 per cent.

Higher-achieving graduates more likely to teach

The data also suggests trainees who secure a higher degree class at undergraduate level remain more likely to gain QTS, and to go on to teach in state schools.Ninety-five per cent of those with a first-class undergraduate degree achieved QTS, compared to 93 per cent of graduates with a 2:1, and 90 per cent with a 2:2 or lower.Those with firsts were most likely to go on to teach in state schools (75 per cent), following by those with a 2:1 (72 per cent).This follows a long-standing pattern of higher outcomes among trainees with higher degree classifications.Outcomes for postgraduate trainees by region have not been published this year.The DfE says “work is ongoing to review the robustness of the data and methodology”, and the statistics will be published at a later date.

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DfE reports drop in newly qualified teachers working in state school system

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