FE News’ Post

An interesting read. Eighty-nine per cent of leaders said they struggled to recruit TAs with the desired level of skills. The article also goes into detail around budget-restrictions and sector group specifics. A third of primary heads expected to slash teaching assistant numbers last year amid concerns over “financial pressures”, but secondary leaders say they need more to cope with rising SEND demand. The survey found 53 per cent of secondary leaders and 51 per cent of special school leaders were planning to increase TA numbers “in the next academic year” – which would have been 2023-24. The “main reason to do so was the increase in the number of pupils with SEND” (93 per cent). https://lnkd.in/eQVjdB-Q

🚨 'Teacher supply is in a critical state, posing a substantial risk to education quality.' 🚨 Have you read the NFER's 2024 report? Here's our digest exploring the findings ➡ https://lnkd.in/eP4P84a8 What are YOUR thoughts on teacher shortages? #Education #TeacherTraining #DepartmentForEducation #CareersInEducation

A very pertinent article once again from Schools Week in the context of schools in England. According to the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), it predicted secondary school teacher recruitment will miss its target by about 40%, with 10 out of 17 secondary subjects likely to have shortfalls and primary school teacher recruitment is forecast to be about 17% below target. "Cutting teacher workload could have the same effect on teacher recruitment and retention as a 3% pay rise,... but failing to increase teacher pay by more than average earnings for all sectors would be “unthinkable” and would send recruitment into freefall." https://lnkd.in/dPviTde5 #teacherrecruitment #ITT #ECT #teachertraining

Might we be looking at this the wrong way? If the impact on the wider economy comes into play, AI will displace highly-skilled labour. Wouldn't teaching benefit from this? However, teachers still need to be paid more, but this will only happen once they become a single coherent body and voice. Source IMF: AI may impact about 60% of jobs in advanced economies. Roughly half the exposed jobs may benefit from AI integration, enhancing productivity. For the other half, AI applications may execute key tasks currently performed by humans, which could lower labour demand, leading to lower wages and reduced hiring. In the most extreme cases, some of these jobs may disappear.

In 2023 70% of those leaving teaching cited ‘teachers’ views not being valued by policy-makers’ as a reason for leaving. Putting teachers’ voices at the heart of policy-making is clearly important, as this Tes article says. And while having teachers on working groups and review groups is part of the answer, there are lots of other ways policy-making could involve teachers. (Gareth Conyard and I explore some in our book, Improving Education Policy Together). So why aren’t policy-makers making it easier for teachers to be involved, to share their expertise and to shape policy in its earliest stages? https://lnkd.in/eCBfrnS7

But yet what do they do?

Clear message here. The signs from the DfE are positive but the ITTECF will need to be addressed to regenerate teacher education. https://lnkd.in/ecxRihy9

The Queensland Teachers’ Journal is a comprehensive magazine featuring current information and articles written specifically for the more than 48,000 members of the Queensland Teachers' Union.   In the latest issue, QTU President Cresta Richards talks the teacher shortage. "We face a critical turning point in the nationwide teacher shortage – the state government must commit to world-class salaries that will not only attract new entrants to teach in Queensland, but also retain the existing workforce…"  You can read more in the most recent edition of the Journal, here: https://lnkd.in/gtmEQ5bC

This headline hit me. It felt like someone had heard the conversation I have had inside my head when I was a primary school teacher and leader. I wonder what it would be like to help shape education policy? Let’s explore how teachers can have a voice and a seat at the policy table. Teachers and leaders are the ones on the ground. Teachers and leaders have incredle insights and innovative ideas that can shape the thinking that goes into policies, so how can we make that happen? Let’s show our education workforce they are valued and we welcome their voices to shape and develop the policies, after all they are the ones that will be implementing the policies in schools. We know from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) A schools guide to implementation (2024) if a school community feels included in decisions that impact them and their perspectives are valued, the likelihood of successful implementation increases. So let’s get those seats and minds around a policy table!

Whilst pay is important for teacher retention, it should not be the sole focus. Other key areas to improve include staff wellbeing, student behavior and respect, expectations of parents, and ensuring decision-makers are still involved in teaching. #TeacherRetention #EducationReform #StaffWellbeing #StudentBehavior #ParentExpectations #TeachingLife #EducationPriorities #TeacherSupport #EducationalLeadership #HolisticEducation.