The latest data from the Department for Education’s School Workforce Census (SWC) provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of staffing in England’s state-funded schools, detailing information on teacher and support staff numbers, teacher pay, retention, and subject specialization. Below are some key data points from the 2023/2024 census, alongside noticeable trends and patterns in staffing and teacher recruitment.
Key Data Points
- Total School Workforce: 979,085 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) positions
- Composition: 50% teachers, 30% teaching assistants, 20% other support staff.
- Teacher Workforce: 468,700 FTE teachers
- Change from Previous Year: An increase of 300 FTE teachers since 2022.
- Change Since 2010: An increase of 27,300 FTE teachers since 2010.
- Teaching Assistants: 282,900 FTE teaching assistants
- Change from Previous Year: An increase of 1,800 FTE since 2022.
- Change Since 2011: An increase of 61,400 since support staff tracking began in 2011.
- Entrants and Leavers:
- FTE Entrants: 44,002 (3,900 fewer than in 2022).
- FTE Leavers: 43,522 (400 fewer than in 2022).
- Retention: Almost 9 in 10 teachers remain in state-funded schools one year after qualification.
- Pupil-to-Teacher Ratios (PTR):
- Overall Ratio: 18.1 pupils per teacher.
- Primary & Nursery Schools: 20.8 pupils per teacher (up by 0.1 from last year).
- Secondary Schools: 16.8 pupils per teacher (no change).
- Special & PRU Schools: 6.5 pupils per teacher (up by 0.1 from last year).
- Teacher Pay:
- Median Salary: £43,801 for teachers.
- Teacher Vacancy Rate:
- Vacancy Rate: 0.6%, equating to 6 vacancies per 1,000 teachers.
- Increase in Vacancies: Total vacancies rose by 20% from 2,300 in 2022 to 2,800 in 2023. Vacancies have more than doubled over three years, rising from 1,100 in 2020.
- Temporary Posts: Temporarily filled posts increased from 2,100 to 3,700 over the past three years.
- Subject Specialization:
- EBacc Subjects: 85.9% of English Baccalaureate (EBacc) teaching hours are taught by teachers with a relevant post-A level qualification.
- Proportion of Teaching: 3 in 5 teaching hours are dedicated to EBacc subjects.
Notable Observations
- Modest Increases in Workforce Numbers
- Both teachers and teaching assistants have seen slight increases since last year. However, the growth rate for new entrants (44,002) is declining, with 3,900 fewer entrants in 2023 compared to the previous year. Nonetheless, the number of leavers (43,522) remains slightly lower than new entrants, contributing to a marginal net increase in overall teacher numbers.
- Rising Pupil-to-Teacher Ratios in Primary and Special Schools
- The pupil-to-teacher ratio (PTR) in primary and nursery schools increased to 20.8, up from 20.7 in the previous year. Special and PRU (Pupil Referral Unit) schools also saw a slight PTR increase to 6.5. While secondary schools maintained a stable PTR of 16.8, rising ratios in other sectors might indicate a need for more hiring to keep pace with student numbers.
- Growing Vacancy and Temporary Post Rates
- Teacher vacancies have climbed significantly, with a 20% increase from 2022 and a notable rise over the past three years, more than doubling since 2020. The increase in temporarily filled posts—from 2,100 to 3,700 since 2020—suggests schools may be increasingly relying on short-term solutions to address staffing gaps.
- Teacher Qualifications in EBacc Subjects
- A high percentage of EBacc hours (85.9%) are covered by teachers with post-A level qualifications in the relevant subject, reflecting a positive alignment of teacher specialization with curriculum requirements. The focus on EBacc subjects, comprising three-fifths of teaching hours, underscores the importance placed on this qualification pathway.
- Salary and Pay Trends
- The median teacher salary stands at £43,801, offering a benchmark for average pay. While this figure helps provide insight into teacher earnings, ongoing recruitment challenges may reflect dissatisfaction with pay and conditions, an issue particularly highlighted by the recent vacancy trends.
This snapshot of the 2023 School Workforce Census provides a detailed picture of the workforce landscape, highlighting critical areas for growth and development within England’s education system. As policymakers and educators reflect on these findings, continued attention to teacher pay, support, and resource allocation will be essential to address existing challenges and strengthen the foundations of the education sector.