Responding to the new Public Accounts Committee report on the government's plans to increase secondary school and further education teacher numbers, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“We have welcomed the government’s intent to address the recruitment and retention crisis facing schools, but this report rightly highlights the need for a more coherent plan, supported by clear evidence, in order to achieve this.

“While there is no single silver bullet for addressing shortages of teachers and school leaders, further real-terms pay rises over the course of the Parliament to restore the value of salaries to 2010 levels are crucial if ministers are serious about making a real difference.

“The government’s own research only last month showed that almost six in 10 teachers and four in 10 school leaders who were thinking of quitting state education cited dissatisfaction with pay as one of the reasons, and salaries have deteriorated markedly compared with other gradate professions.

“If sustained pay increases are allied with action to address unsustainable workload, further boost flexible working, and fundamentally reform high-stakes Ofsted inspections which damage staff wellbeing, schools will have a far better chance of attracting and keeping hold of teachers and leaders.”