Lib Dems hit out at teaching course falls
THE GOVERNMENT has been accused of failing students after figures showed a 10 per cent drop in the number of graduates entering teacher training compared to last year.
Liberal Democrat shadow education secretary Layla Moran said ministers “urgently” needed to address the shortage revealed in analysis of Ucas data by the party.
According to the figures, 780 fewer new teachers are expected to be recruited into teacher training this year – down to 7,165 from 7,945 in 2016.
There were shortages in many key subjects – including Maths, English and the sciences – with only PE and drama looking likely to meet the teacher supply target set by the Department for Education, the party said.
Ms Moran has written to Education Secretary Justine Greening expressing her concern that education faces another “crisis” in teacher recruitment.
She said: “This is yet more evidence of the crisis in teacher recruitment and retention. Great education starts with great teachers. And great teachers are well trained. Government is failing our students as without enough qualified teachers class sizes will rise further and more students will be taught by teachers not qualified in their subjects.
“Ministers must urgently address this shortage.”
A Department for Education spokeswoman said: “There are now more teachers in our schools than ever before – 15,500 more since 2010.
“Overall the number of new teachers entering our classrooms outnumbers those who retire or leave. We take teacher recruitment very seriously and have a significant programme of work under way designed to encourage more good graduates to choose teaching.”