Teacher vacancy rates at record high in England, report finds

NFER says pupil behaviour, stagnant pay and inflexible working practices contributing to exodus from workforce

Teachers in England are abandoning the classroom over worsening pupil behaviour, stagnant pay and inflexible working practices, leaving vacancies at their highest rate on record, according to a report.

It warned that this month's spending review was the government's last chance" to meet its manifesto pledge of hiring 6,500 additional teachers in state schools, as younger teachers continue to abandon the profession since the Covid pandemic and fewer graduates sign up as trainees.