Responding to new analysis from the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) which shows there are limitations to the extent to which retention payments help keep early career teachers in the profession, Ian Hartwright, head of policy at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“The longstanding teacher and leader supply crisis evidences a decade-long policy failure.  Retention payments, bursaries, early career payments and other policy initiatives have failed to deliver sufficient new entrants to the profession or act effectively to retain serving professionals.

“What is needed is more fundamental action to make teaching a sustainable and attractive long tern professional career choice for graduates. That means further above-inflation pay increases over the Parliament to restore the value of salaries to 2010 levels after years of real-terms cuts, further support for flexible working, action to tackle unsustainable workload, and far-reaching reform of unreliable high-stakes Ofsted inspections which harm teacher and leader wellbeing.

“These measures could be complemented by more compelling financial incentives, like fully funding teacher training, waiving student loans, and long service awards - but such incentives should be the cherry on the cake, not its main ingredients.”