As reported by the BBC, government plans to reduce teacher recruitment targets have prompted warnings from education leaders that schools could miss a rare opportunity to reduce class sizes
Ministers have lowered next year’s recruitment goal by 23%, citing falling pupil numbers in primary schools. According to Department for Education projections, primary enrolment is expected to decline by 6.8% between 2023 and 2029, while secondary pupil numbers are forecast to remain broadly unchanged.
However, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, argued that shrinking rolls should be used to improve classroom conditions rather than scale back recruitment efforts.
He said around one million pupils are currently being taught in classes containing more than 31 children and suggested lower pupil numbers present a chance to reduce those figures.
The debate comes as new workforce data revealed a modest decline in teacher numbers across England’s schools. Overall, there were 1,900 fewer full-time teachers in 2025 compared with the previous year.
At the same time, ministers pointed to progress on Labour’s pledge to recruit 6,500 additional teachers during this parliament. Latest figures show there are now 4,654 more teachers working in secondary schools, special schools, pupil referral units and further education colleges than in the baseline year.
The government says the figures demonstrate steady progress towards its recruitment target, despite broader demographic changes affecting the school system.
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