Teach First calls for secondments for teachers to ease recruitment crisis

The education charity is setting out a comprehensive roadmap of the transformations needed to attract Gen Z, the next generation of teachers – including a new system of formal secondments for existing teachers to spend some time out of the classroom in other sectors, before returning with new skills, enthusiasm and energy. 

Teach First commissioned research agency Public First to poll 3,000 16–24-year-olds to probe attitudes to careers, particularly in teaching. The research found that a significant pool of Gen Z has initial interest in the teaching profession and think teaching has purpose, but many desire a less linear career and would value professional experiences from different sectors:  

• Three quarters (73%) said that teaching was a job that had purpose – the highest of the career options tested.
• Over three fifths (61%) of Gen Z would consider working as a teacher. 
• Nearly half (47%) said they would enjoy teaching for a few years, but not their whole career. 

Despite initial interest in a career in the classroom, teacher recruitment numbers continue to fall well short of what is required. In Teach First’s poll, Gen Z highlighted the downsides of teaching: they perceive it as stressful (42%), that the salary is poor (36%) and that schools lack funding (36%).

Teaching needs to keep pace with Gen Z motivations 

Teach First believe more individuals would become teachers if changes were made to the profession that reflect the career priorities of Gen Z.

These include a good work-life balance (56%), a high long-term salary (47%), the opportunity to learn and develop professionally (36%) and career advancement opportunities (32%).

Teach First argue that Gen Z do not see a contradiction in finding a future career that delivers on all these elements. In a world of work that has rapidly changed after the pandemic, teaching has failed to keep pace: 

• 71% of said that it would be easier to earn a lot of money in another sector. 
• 57% said it would be easier to do something new or innovative in another sector. 
• 46% said that it would be easier to achieve a good work-life balance in another sector.
• 45% said it would be easier to develop professional skills in another sector.

Secondments for teachers are part of the answer

In response to the findings, the charity is calling for a shakeup of the professional development offer within teaching, by piloting an offer for teachers of short-term secondment into a different industry or profession. This would help Gen Z gain the diverse career experiences and skills they crave, as well as providing new skills and perspectives which teachers can use to benefit their pupils upon their return to teaching. 

Teach First estimates a pilot in the country’s most disadvantaged schools would cost the Department for Education £7.5m. This would cover the startup expenses, classroom cover and programme delivery for 450 carefully chosen and high-quality short-term placements for teachers. 

A wider package of flexibility

Other recommendations in the charity’s report, Tomorrow’s Teachers: A roadmap to get Gen Z into the classroom include: 

• Establishing a route to increase teacher and trainee teacher salaries to be in the top third of the graduate salary market by 2030.
• Setting out a “working flexibility” entitlement for every teacher. 
• Improving the conditions under which teachers are working by targeting funding towards schools supporting the highest levels of disadvantage and reducing workload.  

Teach First CEO Russell Hobby said: 

“For too long conditions in the teaching profession have failed to keep pace with what the next generation of workers crave in a career – and what they can find in other sectors. This means that, despite having huge respect for teachers, Gen Z are simply not signing up in sufficient numbers. This is holding back the education of our young people, especially from poorer backgrounds."

“This comprehensive study offers innovative solutions to long standing problems, based on the best possible insights of what has the potential to work. Change will not happen overnight, but by making the necessary interventions, we have the power to break the cycle of inequality and unlock the potential of every child, regardless of their background.” 

Mat Galvin, Teach First Partner School Principal of The Macclesfield Academy, said: 

“Recently, we supported one of our brilliant physics teachers to participate in an international teacher development residency at The European Organisation for Nuclear Research, or CERN, in Switzerland. The opportunity augmented the teacher’s subject knowledge and provided an invaluable experience she brought back to her pupils and our wider community."

“If schools could offer teachers real-life industry experience, it could transform teacher recruitment and retention. We know new teachers seek flexible working opportunities in exciting and diverse careers. While a career in teaching already offers daily variety, industry-led secondments could do wonders for freshening up ideas, providing our communities with different perspectives, and ensuring teachers can continue making a real difference to their pupils.”

Lord David Blunkett, former Secretary of State for Education and Employment said: 

“The teaching profession is the backbone of a strong education system – the keystone of the Government’s mission to break down the barriers to opportunity and drive growth. Yet the attractiveness of the job has eroded over recent years. Bold action is now needed to think creatively about how to recruit the new pipeline of teaching talent from the next generation – Gen Z."

“That’s why I’m proud to support Teach First’s new report, Tomorrow’s Teachers, which sets out an innovative policy roadmap to support Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson deliver her commitment to recruit 6,500 new teachers. The Government have the ambition and the tools at their disposal. This is a timely report with forward-thinking proposals to modernise the profession and make it fit for the future.”

MEDIA CONTACTS: For more information and interviews, please contact the Teach First press office on 020 3862 8000 (dial 4 for Press), or email press@teachfirst.org.uk

Notes to Editor

• Public First conducted a poll of 3031 16–24-year-olds online in England from 21 May-4 June 2024 on topics related to values, careers and teaching. Results were weighted by Iterative Proportional Fitting to be representative of national demographics along lines of age, gender, region and ethnicity.
• Public First is a member of the British Polling Council. Full polling tables are available on Public First’s website.
• Full data from the Public First poll commissioned by Teach First, the full report, and interviews with Russell Hobby are available both ahead of the embargo and following the report launch.
• Further case studies from the Teach First community are also available upon request.

About Teach First 

Teach First is an education charity committed to giving children facing the biggest barriers the chance to fulfil their potential. It backs the schools with the toughest challenges. The charity finds and trains teachers, develops school leadership teams and connect schools with networks of diverse expertise and opportunities to create real change. 

Since launching in 2003, the charity has now placed over 17,000 teachers and leaders, has more than 100 headteachers in its alumni, and has supported over two million pupils. 

As well as recruiting new teachers into the profession, the charity provides a range of support for schools, including programmes to help develop teachers at every stage of their career.