New Education Secretary launches initiative to recruit 6,500 teachers as educators call for focus on retention
(Credit: Bridget Phillipson, X)
The Department for Education has announced that the new education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has commenced a major initiative to recruit 6,500 teachers.
In an effort to strengthen ties with the education sector, Phillipson will be reaching out to various education workforces and engaging with union leaders and other key stakeholders in the coming days.
The DfE outlined that one of Phillipson’s first steps will be to write to "all education workforces" on Monday. This move is part of a broader strategy to "reset the relationship" with the sector.
The government will resume and expand the teacher recruitment campaign, Every Lesson Shapes a Life, which aims to attract new candidates through the Get Into Teaching website. The platform provides support and advice from teacher training advisers, access to a contact centre, and information on a national programme of events.
Labour had committed during their election campaign to prioritise recruiting 6,500 teachers. The party intends to fund these new positions by increasing taxes on private school fees, although the timeline for implementing this policy remains unclear.
The funding strategy, detailed in Labour’s manifesto, has generated mixed reactions, with many viewing it as a reasonable method to generate revenue, while others in support of private schools argue it unfairly targets the 7% of parents who send their children to private schools.
Expressing her commitment on social media, Phillipson tweeted:
Educators and stakeholders have taken to social media to respond to the announcement. Jamie Nairn, a headteacher and MAT leader, highlighted the importance of retention alongside recruitment:
Another educator, using the handle @SENCO_mrsp, echoed this sentiment, emphasising the need to address current issues within schools to make recruitment easier:
Further reactions included calls for creating a supportive working environment and ensuring that existing teachers feel valued. Liz Lord tweeted:
In response to the announcement, Marion S noted the issue of retention, stating:
The drive to recruit more teachers is seen as a positive step, but the need for a balanced focus on retention is clear. As Rachel L highlighted:
