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<p>23,224 postgraduate trainees have been recruited for 2022/23, which is a 20% decrease
from 30,093 in 2021/22. This is 71% of the Postgraduate Initial Teacher Training (PGITT)
target, down from 97% in 2021/22.</p><p> </p><p>Teacher recruitment has been challenging
for several years, driven by increasing demand for teachers in particular phases and
subjects, and a competitive graduate labour market.</p><p> </p><p>As expected, the
unprecedented increase in new entrants to ITT because of the COVID-19 pandemic in
2020/21 has declined over the past 2 years. The graduate and general labour markets
became more competitive and pay has risen in competing sectors, especially in priority
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects.</p><p> </p><p>Some
STEM subjects face more recruitment challenges than others and this is reflected in
their performance against the PGITT targets. For example, physics achieved 17% of
the PGITT target in 2022/23. Mathematics and biology achieved 85% and 111% respectively
in 2022/23.</p><p> </p><p>The department launched a pilot initial teacher training
course in spring 2022 called ‘Engineers Teach Physics’. Following the first year pilot
for ‘Engineers Teach Physics’, it has been expanded to a second year with a national
rollout. The department is continuing to work closely with sector experts, representative
bodies and academic institutions to ensure that the course reflects best practice
and includes the most up-to-date industry knowledge. This expansion will ensure that
this programme will be available to more trainees across the country, further ameliorating
the shortfall in physics teachers.</p><p> </p><p>The department has also announced
funding for physics for those training in 2023/24. A £27,000 tax-free bursary or £29,000
tax-free scholarship in chemistry, computing, mathematics, and physics reflects the
priority the department places on training teachers to teach STEM subjects.</p><p>
</p><p>Additionally, the department is offering a Levelling Up Premium worth up to
£3,000 tax-free for mathematics, physics, chemistry, and computing teachers in the
first five years of their careers who work in disadvantaged schools, including in
Education Investment Areas. This will support the recruitment and retention of specialist
teachers in these subjects and in the schools and areas that need them most. The department
is also extending eligibility of the physics bursary to all non-UK trainees.</p><p>
</p><p>The manifesto commitment to raise the starting salary for teachers to £30,000
remains as important as ever.</p>
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