Our vision for recruiting the next generation of teachers
As teacher recruitment challenges continue, it is vital that we understand the motivations and priorities of Gen Z; the education leaders of the future.
High-quality teaching remains our most powerful lever to ensure all pupils can fulfil their potential. With growing gaps in skills, opportunities, and attainment, we need to act.
The Government’s pledge to recruit 6,500 more teachers is a welcome step in the right direction, but if they are to reach their ambitious target, more needs to be done.
To better understand what drives our next generation of teachers, Teach First commissioned Public First, a policy, research, opinion and strategy consultancy, to explore Gen Z’s attitudes towards careers, particularly in teaching.
Here’s what we learned:
- Teaching stands out as a meaningful career: 73% of respondents see teaching as a purposeful job—the highest rating among all the career options we tested. However, many view it as a career for later in life, and only 14% believe they could remain in the profession for their entire career.
- Gen Z prioritise financial stability: 94% seek a high salary and 91% aim to buy a home. They also expect rapid career progression, with 69% anticipating a promotion within their first two years, while 56% expect a good work-life balance, and 41% want a positive workplace culture.
- Teaching is perceived to have three key challenges: It is seen as stressful (42%), the salary is considered uncompetitive (37%), and there are concerns about underfunding in schools (36%).
To attract Gen Z to the classroom, we need to reframe what a career in teaching might mean for the next generation and enhance traditional incentives.
We have identified several key actions to achieve this:
