The alarming trend of falling pupil numbers in England has prompted the National Education Union (NEU) to call for smaller class sizes, rather than relying on cuts to teacher recruitment. One million pupils are currently taught in classes exceeding 31 children – a figure that could represent some of the largest class sizes in Europe.
According to data from the Department for Education, primary pupil numbers are set to decline by 6.8% between 2023 and 2029, while secondary school numbers will remain relatively stable. In response, the government has reduced its recruitment target for new primary school teachers by 23% for the upcoming academic year. However, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the NEU, sees this as a "historic opportunity" to improve the learning environment by reducing class sizes.
The union's stance comes amid a modest overall fall of 1,900 full-time teachers in schools last year. The government claims progress towards its target of recruiting an additional 6,500 teachers for secondary and special schools, further education colleges, but its commitment does not extend to primary or early years education.
Headteachers like Ben Burpitt from North Mead Primary Academy in Leicester are already feeling the pinch, struggling with specialist teacher recruitment for vulnerable children. With funding allocated per pupil, Mr Burpitt anticipates a budget drop as numbers dwindle – forcing him to juggle staffing levels carefully, including support staff.
Some academy trusts are taking steps to address recruitment challenges by training their own staff. Sara McAdam oversees a training institute that adapts to the falling birth rate by avoiding over-recruitment of primary trainees. This strategy allows individuals like Joseph Brown to transition from teaching assistant roles into qualified teachers, even if it means accepting lower pay for passion rather than financial reward.
The NEU's stance has implications for ongoing tensions over teacher pay, with a potential strike ballot looming in the autumn. The union may call a ballot if the forthcoming pay award is not fully funded by the government and instead has to be met from school budgets – further straining education resources.