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?

yup. AI is slowly taking over MOST roles. I was made redundant as my boss now uses AI as his EA so he doesn't have to pay for any admin!!

No, England, and looking at secondary- comprehensives (in a grammar area, too!).

But are they quality applicants?

I ask because the last time my department tried to hire for a subject specialist to teach GCSE and A level I had 3 applicants.

One was a primary teacher who fancied a change, but had no degree in the subject we wanted them to teach, and had been teaching KS1. One was just finishing their PGCE and had no experience at A level and one was a foreign teacher who had never taught (or actually studied) the subject.

What subject was that?

The two jobs I saw they did appoint and at least one had more high quality applicants than interview slots.

It is very dependent on subject and area. Also this is the time window for lots of applicants. Newly qualified teachers teachers are looking for jobs and those already teaching but considering a move will apply now as the only have until half term to hand in their notice.
Also, if it is a good school with a good reputation it will attract candidates.

Fewer jobs generally and the same number of / more applicants chasing those jobs?

Last year the government estimated that the number of children in state education would decline by around 400,000 over the next 5 years.

https://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/national/25321552.pupil-numbers-schools-expected-drop-nearly-400-000-five-years/

One primary school near us has already closed because of falling numbers and I think there are two more rural primaries currently under consideration for closure.

Falling roles in lots of primary schools means many applicants.
In secondary its definitely subject specific. In my experience Maths, science, computing, geography all really struggling. History, English and RE for example seem to get a good field. But even when people leave, schools are trying to shuffle around staff using non specialists to avoid recruiting.

Its an interesting time in education, conditions are the worst they have ever been and many of the new recruits find it tough. There are also issues with staff off on long term absence. All leading to a lack of consistency for students in some areas, sadly.

I'm an ECT applying for Secondary MFL jobs, but due to the shelving of the EBacc, quite a few schools are no longer doing Languages for All at GCSE as they can get better results allowing students to take easier options. Consequently, many MFL departments in my area are overstaffed and using MFL teachers to do other subjects (this was the case in both my placement schools). Very frustrating when I was assured repeatedly I would be snapped up at the end of my training. I've been advised to emphasise a willingness to teach outside my subject.

No shortage of Maths/ Science jobs round here!

@SugarMiceInTheRain I’m in East Anglia working in ITT and a few schools locally tell me they’re now only offering one language, either Spanish or French.

History, in a very good school.

I keep hearing people saying there are no shortage of History teachers but we have struggled to recruit over the past few years. Plenty of NQTs, but we are not a big school or a big department and would have preferred someone with decent experience.

There is clearly a retention crisis - it's difficult to find someone who has been teaching more than a year or so who wants to move.

I can't speak for England, but in Scotland many schools have cut back on MFL. Therefore, whenever a post comes up there are often many candidates.