Decline in teacher training applicants

New analysis from UCAS has found that there has been a decline in the number of applicants for teacher training in England.

The data looked at the applications for both higher education and schools-based teacher training programmes, and found applications had fallen by 6.5 per cent last year compared with the previous 12 months. Despite the fall in applications, more trainees were accepted to train.

The UCAS figures are different from previous data because it also displays the acceptance rates for teacher training places. The study suggested that 42,400 people in England had applied for teacher training in 2015. Of this figure, 25,300 gained a place, an acceptance rate of almost 60 per cent. This compares to the lower 52 per cent acceptance rate in 2014.

The news comes after the Department for Education (DfE) published figures in November which showed targets for the number of new trainee teachers were missed for the third year running.

Nansi Ellis, Association of Teachers and Lecturers assistant general secretary, said: “While these figures highlight a small rise in the proportion of applicants accepted on teacher training courses, they don't show the rise in numbers needed to combat previously unmet teacher training targets.

"As February's National Audit Office report highlighted, teacher supply is becoming a critical issue in many schools.”

A Department for Education spokeswoman said: “There are over 1,000 more graduates training to teach secondary subjects in the 2015-2016 academic year compared to last, including record levels of trainees holding a first-class degree. For the first time the majority of teachers are being trained on school-led routes in the classroom from day one and learning from the best teachers.

"The very latest UCAS figures show more people are applying and being accepted on training courses starting in September 2016. But we refuse to be complacent.

"That's why we're investing hundreds of millions in teacher recruitment, including increased bursaries and scholarships, worth up to £30,000 in priority subjects and backing schemes like Teach First and the National Teaching Service to get great teachers where they are most needed."