Oral QuestionDepartment for Education

What steps her Department is taking to encourage teachers to remain in that profession.

Tabled: 16 June 2026Answered: 22 June 2026

Asked by

Ian Lavery

LabourBlyth and Ashington

Answering Minister

the Secretary of State for Education

Answer from Hansard

The Secretary of State for Education (Bridget Phillipson)

Since entering Government, we have turned the tide on the teacher retention and recruitment crisis left behind by the Tories. We have achieved over 70% of our 6,500 additional teachers target. There are now over 4,600 more teachers in our secondary and special schools, as well as our colleges, compared with when Labour entered Government. We are also keeping our brilliant teachers in place, with the latest statistics showing one of the lowest leaver rates on record.