Why are there so many applicants for teaching roles locally?

[Holdinguphalfthesky]

Anyone know why there are so many applicants for teaching roles in my area, when I thought we had a recruitment and retention crisis?

more information needed

how do you know this

Are you partial London weighting, but actually not inner city comprehensive? I know a couple of teachers looking for those roles.

Well we just recruited in our department and only had 3 applicants. But thats high school and we always struggle so is it primary or just location?

No, miles from London.

i know because of the feedback from shortlisting. And I have a spy in one of the hiring schools 👀🕵️‍♀️

Comprehensive secondary

Some subjects are in less of a shortage.

Which subject?

Yes subject makes a huge difference. For example, science, maths, computer science and modern foreign languages are all subjects we struggle with recruitment.

In my area primary teachers are in high demand. There were 30 applicants last time my school advertised.

There is more internal movement in that when a teacher leaves, existing teachers are shuffled around a bit. This means more people looking for jobs have less to apply to. Obviously this is different in different places

All I can say is that leaving primary teaching after 20 plus years in was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Nothing would make me even consider returning!

Ditto!

Because graduates and young people can’t get other well paying jobs 🤷🏻‍♀️

It's very subject, area and stage dependent. There can be fluctuations either way within 20-30 miles depending on the demographic too.

Schools do not really like to hire experienced teachers - they are too expensive!

In e.g. Hampshire, teaching jobs are always over subscribed. I read about these 'teaching shortages' but I've yet to see any around here. Vacancies are like hens' teeth in every subject. Most recently, I worked at an indy prep and there were routinely 10+ applicants for any vacancy!!! SLT chose 3 or maybe 4 to interview.
I agree that, currently, schools shuffle around to reallocate teachers to avoid going through the process of interviews and also b/c they have a responsibility to those already under contract - it's difficult to end a contract if the teacher can teach other subjects.
If you can work supply for a school you like, you might be able to jump the interview queue by knowing what's going to be advertised and also having a foot in the door - schools like to hire a teacher they already know.

If you are between jobs and can hold on, you're better off applying to start in January or after Easter since schools will need someone to finish the year and also many currently employed teachers need to give at least a term's notice.

Interesting, thanks. The jobs I saw were MFL so I’m quite surprised they had so many applications.

Can I ask what you’re doing now?

@Holdinguphalfthesky I am now an EOTAS Tutor and I absolutely love it!

The recruitment and retention rate is the best it has been in fifteen years. So many graduates are afraid of AI and teaching is a secure career.

Ah I had a tutee for a bit- not sure how to get any more!!

Oh that’s interesting. Good I guess, for education??

I suggest fewer roles as schools
face budget pressures and consolidate classes and cut subjects etc combined with more applicants as the job market more generally is so tough

I can only presume those applicants are absolutely fucking desperate.

Is it??? Where have you heard that!

Are you in Scotland? There are so few permanent teaching jobs that there are lots of applicants for vacancies when/if they come up.
Less that a quarter of newly qualified teachers are able to secure a permanent teaching job, particularly for primary teaching.