Maths teacher gap ‘to worsen’
Updates | Thursday May 08th, 2008The shortage of qualified maths teachers in England and Wales is to worsen, a survey suggests.
Analysis of advertised teacher vacancies and numbers of trained teachers suggests there will be a shortfall in the next academic year.
Professor John Howson says the overall picture is one of a north-south divide, with the south struggling the most.
The Training and Development Agency for Schools says overall, the proportion of trainee teachers accepted is on target.
Professor Howson, from Education Data Surveys, said only about 2,000 maths teachers were likely to be trained this year, with even fewer next year.
But secondary schools across England and Wales have advertised 1,650 vacancies for maths teachers already this year.
This represented about 75% of the likely total number of maths trainees qualifying this year.
With a proportion of those expected to drop out or go to private schools, Professor Howson says the shortage will get worse.