Schools face ‘perfect storm’


A leading academic has warned of a teacher workforce crisis in the primary sector because of falling applications, low staff morale, and rising pupil numbers.


Professor John Howson has described the triple hit as a “perfect storm” and says the government must act.


He highlights a 17 per cent fall in teacher training applications – both undergraduate and postgraduate – and compares this with a forecasted rise in primary pupil numbers of eight per cent by 2015. The drop in applications is signifi cant in key subjects such science, maths and English, he adds. The report, The Future Teacher


Workforce: Quality and quantity, also claims that 55 per cent of school leaders think staff morale is poor or worse, with less than 10 per cent saying it is good or better. Prof Howson says that government policies and Ofsted topped the list of key workforce- related issues of concern.


The report calls on the government and Ofsted to “urgently to fi nd ways to articulate appreciation and support as well as challenge to the profession, in


Professor Becky Francis said: “The government needs to act on the recommendations in this report to ensure that shortages don’t undermine the quality of provision. Especially,


the


recognition of the damaging impact to morale that a combination of punitive and pejorative discourses, and a raft of rapid and dramatic policy changes, are having”. Prof Howson, who is a visiting professor at Oxford Brookes University and managing director of teacher supply research company Data for Education, also found that a quarter of school leaders reported fi nding recruitment in 2012 harder than in 2011. This issue was more pronounced in the region surrounding London.


Other recommendations for the government include monitoring the impact of the public sector pay freeze on teacher recruitment and a


warning that the government must “think carefully” before introducing performance-related pay. Prof Howson said: “A perfect storm of falling teacher training applications, low staff morale and rapidly rising pupil numbers could easily create a future teacher workforce crisis in primary schools if left unchallenged.


“The government needs to take urgent steps now, including higher bursaries for primary initial training education, to avoid a crisis in our schools which would impact on the education of thousands of pupils across the country.”


The study was commissioned by the Pearson Think Tank. Director


government and Ofsted need to heed what headteachers are saying about staff morale – a set of policy measures that impact conditions of service, combined with a discourse which is seen to question teachers’ judgement and professionalism, is taking its toll.” Martin Johnson, deputy general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said: “When an experienced analyst like John Howson sounds early alarm bells, the government should pay attention. England has avoided a shortfall in the recent past, but where will we fi nd the extra primary teachers we need in the regions of population growth? “It is depressing that persistent problems of teacher morale remain a deterrent to recruitment and retention of teachers. Ministers should think again before talking down a profession that needs to attract even more recruits.”


Ofsted issues new year warning


Ofsted has warned that “good” is now the minimum acceptable category of inspection.


Revised inspection arrangements come into effect this month which scrap the “satisfactory” category


and replace it with the new “requires improvement” grade. However, Ofsted has confi rmed that those schools


judged


satisfactory at the end of last month will be given a “clean slate” before being inspected by the end of the 2013/14 academic year.


Schools already judged “inadequate” and given a notice to improve will immediately be treated as schools that have “serious weaknesses”.


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Elsewhere, schools will now need to demonstrate “outstanding” teaching in order to be judged as outstanding overall. Also, schools will now be notifi ed of


an inspection visit by telephone on the afternoon of the working day before the inspection starts. It is the second time this year that the inspection framework has been revised after changes introduced in January. Ofsted said it is “raising the bar for school inspections” and will be putting more senior inspectors in the fi eld to “promote improvement through inspection and to ensure the right amount of time is spent giving support to schools”. Chief inspector Sir Michael


Wilshaw added: “I make no apology for introducing an inspection framework that raises expectations and focuses on the importance of teaching. The new


short-notice inspections allow inspectors to see schools as they really are. Schools judged ‘requires improvement’ will receive strong support from Ofsted.


“Showing the need for improvement is often the spur that brings about change. I want Ofsted to be giving the right support to the schools that need it. Inspectors will spend more time doing inspection and improvement work locally and they will be supported by eight new regional directors, each responsible for learning and improvement in their respective areas.” You can download Ofsted leafl ets explaining the new framework from www.ofsted.gov.uk


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