Two years into the current Parliament, the government says it has delivered around 70% of its pledge to recruit and retain an additional 6,500 teachers, according to new figures published by
the Department for Education.
The data shows 4,654 additional teachers have now been recruited against the manifesto commitment, including 3,008 in secondary and special schools and 1,646 in further education.
Officials say the shift reflects a targeted workforce strategy aimed at areas of growing pressure, as secondary pupil numbers begin to plateau alongside a continued expansion in further education. In special schools, teacher numbers have risen by around 1,100, which ministers link to a renewed focus on support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The Department for Education argues that the overall increase forms part of a broader effort to raise school standards and improve outcomes regardless of background.
Teacher retention figures also show signs of improvement. The government says leaving rates are at one of their lowest levels on record, with around 2,100 fewer teachers exiting the profession compared with last year. At the same time, entrants to teacher training have risen by 13%, and recruitment targets for STEM subjects have been exceeded for the first time since their introduction.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the progress showed the government was beginning to deliver on its commitment to strengthen the profession, while acknowledging further work was needed to make teaching more attractive and sustainable long-term.
Average teacher pay has risen to £51,048, up 4% year-on-year, with ministers pointing to a cumulative pay increase of almost 10% over two years.
To support recruitment, the government continues to offer tax-free bursaries and scholarships of up to £31,000 for shortage subjects including maths, physics, chemistry and computing. Early career teachers in these disciplines may also receive additional payments of up to £6,000 after tax if working in disadvantaged schools.
A series of policy measures aimed at improving retention is also being rolled out. These include a new teacher retention programme launching this autumn, offering peer support, coaching and flexible working guidance, alongside 93 newly established attendance and behaviour hubs designed to spread best practice across schools.
Investment in special educational needs support is also part of the wider package, with £4 billion committed to SEND reform. The government also highlighted £9.5 billion in childcare funding, including expanded free hours, breakfast clubs, and the rollout of family hubs, alongside its child poverty strategy aimed at reducing disadvantage and improving school readiness.
Ministers say the combined reforms are intended to ease workload pressures on schools, strengthen recruitment pipelines, and ensure more consistent teaching quality across the system as demand continues to evolve.
