6,500 new teachers 'may not be enough'

IT is unclear whether the Government’s pledge to recruit 6,500 more teachers will fully address staff shortages, the public spending watchdog has said.

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The National Audit Office (NAO) said demand for teachers in secondary schools and colleges is increasing as the number of pupils continues to rise.

The watchdog has called on the Government to publish a delivery plan for achieving its pledge, and to consider what more it can do to encourage teacher trainees to work in state schools across England.

In a report, the NAO stated the number of newly qualified teachers starting in state secondary schools fell in 2023/24 to 8,700 - the lowest number since 2010/11.