Warning of teacher shortages

Recruitment falls short for the third year running, writes Alison Goddard.

Fewer people are training to become teachers as the economy recovers. The Daily Telegraph says that 93 per cent of the teacher-training places that were allocated to schools and universities have been filled, down from 95 per cent in the previous year. It adds that the recruitment rate stood at 67 per cent for physics, 79 per cent for foreign languages, 81 per cent for geography, 85 per cent for biology and 88 per cent for maths. The Independent reports comments made by a spokesman for the Department for Education, who said that more places were allocated than needed to be filled. Under the headline "Fewer teachers but the class is improving", The Times reports that well-qualified candidates are training to become teachers: three-quarters have an upper second class degree or better. Meanwhile the Belfast Telegraph says that the jobs of one in ten teachers in Northern Ireland are under threat.

Researchers have expressed relief that the Smith commission has not recommended a revision of Scotland’s relationship with the UK research councils, according to a report in Research Fortnight, our sister publication.