The UK Government has failed to reach its goals for teacher recruitment for the fourth consecutive year despite spending £700 million annually on their training, according to the National Audit Office (NAO).

The report also indicates that teacher shortages are growing. Between 2011 and 2014 the number of teachers leaving the profession has risen by 11%. The recorded rate of vacancies and temporarily filled positions more than doubled from 0.5% of the teaching workforce to 1.2%. The proportion of those who chose to leave the profession ahead of retirement increased from 64% to 75%.

According to the NAO, in secondary schools, more classes are being taught by teachers without a relevant post-A level qualification in their subject.

The report shows that secondary school teacher training places are proving particularly difficult to fill. 14 out of 17 secondary subjects had unfilled training places in 2015/16, compared with two subjects with unfilled places in 2010/11. 

“Training a sufficient number of new teachers of the right quality is key to the success of all the money spent on England’s schools,” Amyas Morse, head of the National Audit Office, said. “The Department, however, has missed its recruitment targets for the last four years and there are signs that teacher shortages are growing. Until the Department meets its targets and can show how its approach is improving trainee recruitment, quality and retention, we cannot conclude that the arrangements for training new teachers are value for money.”