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COVID-19: Fewer teachers seeking new employment brings disruption to the teacher job market for a second year

21 October 2021 Lauren Golding

New data from Teacher Tapp and SchoolDash shows that, for the second year running, fewer teachers moved schools or sought new jobs

COVID-19: Fewer teachers seeking new employment brings disruption to the teacher job market for a second year
  • The uncertainty caused by COVID-19 means greater numbers of teachers feel they will be teaching in 3 years’ time and fewer are considering a move to teach overseas
  • The increase in teachers staying in their schools disproportionately benefits schools serving disadvantaged communities, who often struggle to find suitable candidates in normal years
  • However, schools are advertising in greater numbers for school technician posts, and are likely to be struggling to recruit into other non-teaching roles where they must compete with a tight external labour market
  • Headteachers continue to experience very high levels of stress and burnout during the pandemic, with one-third reporting sustained feelings of burnout as early as mid-October. However, they are no more likely than in normal years to report that they plan to leave the profession soon. 

“Collecting teacher vacancy data and pairing it with the views of teachers allows us to gain valuable real-time insight into teacher movement.” Jenni French, Head of Teacher Supply Programmes, Gatsby says. ‘Our latest data shows Science teacher vacancies are at lower levels than usual years as a result of teachers staying in their current positions. This is an encouraging development for disadvantaged schools in particular, as they are finding it easier to recruit newly-qualified teachers. However, it also indicates that a focus on teacher retention is more vital than ever to ensure the teachers we have, remain in the classroom.”

Founder of SchoolDash, Timo Hannay, says: “Teacher recruitment activity at secondary schools in England suffered a second consecutive year of disruption in 2020-21, with an even lower number of advertised vacancies than during the first year of the pandemic. So far, this trend has also continued into the new academic year. In contrast, headteacher turnover remains roughly flat, while technician hiring is exceptionally buoyant.”

Chief Analyst and Co-Founder of Teacher Tapp, Professor Becky Allen, says: “The emerging contrast between the lowest and highest-paid employees in schools is something to watch over the next 12 months. Schools may find it increasingly difficult to hold onto non-teaching staff and teachers at the start of their careers, both of whom will have enhanced opportunities in the currently tight labour market. However, the headteachers who are experiencing the highest levels of stress and burnout will find it more difficult to transition to equivalent paid work in other professions.”

  • To read the full report, click here
  • To learn more about our work regarding teacher supply and retention, click here
COVID-19: Fewer teachers seeking new employment brings disruption to the teacher job market for a second year