The latest Department for Education Initial Teacher Training (ITT) data reveal a sharp drop in teacher trainee targets for 2026/27.
In a blog, NFER Education Workforce Lead, Jack Worth, explores the drivers of this decline and what it means for teacher supply and policy.
Further exploring the teacher labour market, NFER Senior Economist, Michael Scott, draws on our teacher workforce series to examine primary school teacher supply.
He discusses how, while the overall labour market is relatively strong, some schools still face recruitment challenges.
Michael also shared insights from recent DfE data on further education (FE) teachers. It shows that while teacher numbers are increasing, there are still significant shortages in the sector.
He notes that maintaining a high-quality teaching workforce in the FE sector is critical to delivering the government’s ambitions for the sector and its wider industrial strategy.