The UK education sector is grappling with a severe teacher shortage, as recent research highlights a growing preference for support roles over full-time teaching positions.
- Teaching Assistant roles have become the most sought-after in the education sector, with nearly 250,000 applications in the past year alone.
- Reports indicate an ongoing crisis with over 1,000 vacancies remaining unfilled at the start of August, primarily affecting teaching roles.
- There is a notable trend of teachers leaving their professions, increasing demand for educational support staff across the UK.
- Inner city schools, especially in London and Manchester, are experiencing the highest demand for educational roles.
The UK education sector is currently facing a significant shortage of teachers, exacerbated by an increasing inclination towards educational support roles rather than full-time teaching positions. The latest research from CV-Library reveals that Teaching Assistant positions have attracted nearly 250,000 applications over the past year, underscoring their popularity amidst this crisis.
The data analysed over the last twelve months shows that there were over one million education jobs advertised, yet teaching roles are witnessing a severe drop in interest compared to entry-level and support roles. This pattern mirrors the increasing trend of qualified teachers leaving the profession due to factors such as stress and workload.
Despite the start of a new academic term, an unsettling vacancy rate persists, with over 1,000 unfilled positions reported at the beginning of August. This situation is primarily impacting teaching roles, while demand for roles like Teaching Assistants, SEN Teaching Assistants, and Learning Support Assistants continues to surge.
Interestingly, STEM teaching positions are experiencing an increase in popularity. Roles such as Maths Teacher and Science Technician have seen more applications than those in arts and humanities, highlighting a shift in interest towards STEM subjects.
Geographically, there is a marked disparity in demand for education staff, with inner city schools facing the greatest challenges. London tops the list with the most vacancies, followed by Greater Manchester and the West Midlands. This demand is not only confined to urban areas; rural counties like Kent and Devon are also in need of educational professionals.
Lee Biggins, Founder and CEO of CV-Library, articulates the gravity of the situation: “UK schools are facing the headache of finding enough qualified educators to meet demand, as teachers leave the profession due to stress and workload. Even as schools return after the summer break, there may be some holes still left to plug.”
The ongoing teacher shortage in the UK reflects a critical challenge for the education sector, particularly evident in inner city and rural schools.
