Funding reductions announced for teacher training incentives in key subjects like English, maths, biology, geography, music, and languages—contrary to Labour’s recruitment commitment.
Funding reductions announced for teacher training incentives in key subjects like English, maths, biology, geography, music, and languages—contrary to Labour’s recruitment commitment.
The government has made significant cuts to teacher training incentives, affecting vital shortage subjects like maths and foreign languages.
This year, out of 13 subjects with available bursaries for trainees, four have been eliminated, and funding for an additional five has been reduced.
Moreover, the ÂŁ31,000 scholarship for exceptional graduates training in maths has been completely eliminated.
This decision comes despite the government’s promise to increase teacher numbers by 6,500. Although recruitment improved this year, projections indicate that the secondary recruitment goal will remain unfulfilled.
Recent analysis from the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) suggests that these cuts may significantly lower the number of teacher trainees in the upcoming year.
Jack Worth, NFER’s workforce lead, stated, “These cuts alone may result in approximately 2,400 fewer trainees next year, which undermines the government’s target of 6,500 new teachers.”
Bursaries for English, Music, and RE Eliminated
Bursaries for teacher training in English, music, art and design, and religious education have been eliminated.
For the current trainees, every subject except English, which had a ÂŁ5,000 bursary, offered bursaries valued at ÂŁ10,000.
English is one of only five subjects that exceeded recruitment targets in 2024-25, reaching 101 percent of its postgraduate initial teacher training (ITT) target after a previous shortfall of 28 percent.
Conversely, the ÂŁ26,000 bursaries for postgraduates training to teach biology and geography this academic year will be cut to just ÂŁ5,000 for 2026-27.
Biology met 119 percent of its target in 2024-25 after early difficulties, while geography achieved 92 percent.
Bursaries for trainees in languages and design technology are also set to decrease, from ÂŁ26,000 to ÂŁ20,000.
Recruitment for modern foreign languages reached only 43 percent of its target in 2024-25.
Bursaries for chemistry, computing, maths, and physics will remain at ÂŁ29,000.
Maths Scholarship Elimination
Currently, ÂŁ31,000 scholarships were available for graduates with a 2:2 or better training in shortage subjects such as maths, chemistry, computing, or physics.
However, the DfE has now removed the maths scholarship.
Maths experienced a 24 percent increase in trainees during 2024-25 compared to the previous year, but still fell short, reaching only 73 percent of its target.
Scholarships in chemistry, computing, and physics will remain at ÂŁ31,000. In 2024-25, physics achieved just 31 percent of its target, while chemistry reached 62 percent and computing 37 percent.
Additionally, ÂŁ28,000 scholarships for training in French, German, and Spanish will now decrease to ÂŁ22,000.
The initial teacher training (ITT) recruitment data for the 2024-25 academic year revealed that the government only met 62 percent of its postgraduate ITT (PGITT) target for secondary subjects.
While this shows progress from the previous year, where only 48 percent of the PGITT target was achieved, the overall target has not been met since 2012-13, except for a temporary surge in 2020-21 due to the pandemic.
The results for the 2025-26 academic year’s recruitment data are anticipated to be released in December.
However, earlier forecasts predicted secondary recruitment to reach around 85 percent of its target—indicating the highest enrollment since the 2020-21 recruitment boost. Key subjects like maths, chemistry, and biology are projected to exceed recruitment goals.
While recruitment figures have shown an upward trend, the DfE has also reduced its targets for the 2026 academic year by nearly 20 percent, citing “more optimistic forecasts” for teacher retention.
Moral Considerations in Teacher Training
The DfE indicated that the level of funding for teacher training incentives “correlates with our teacher recruitment and retention pipeline. Given that there were an additional 2,300 teachers this year compared to last, the incentives package reflects that.”
Emma Hollis, CEO of the National Association of School-based Teacher Trainers (NASBTT), commented, “It’s time for the government to cease viewing this issue solely in economic, transactional terms. They must also consider the moral and ethical implications.”
She reiterated NASBTT’s demand that “no trainee, irrespective of their subject, should be burdened with additional debt for training in our state schools.”
The DfE confirmed upcoming changes to grants provided to ITT providers to assist with salaries for postgraduate teaching apprentices.
Grants of ÂŁ29,000 remain for chemistry, computing, maths, and physics, but there will be reductions for biology and geography from ÂŁ17,000 and ÂŁ5,000.
Additional cuts have also been announced for grants associated with teaching apprenticeships in various subjects, including languages.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated that the government “is committed to increasing the number of excellent teachers in more schools, enhancing the futures of more children and young people.”
Phillipson remarked that the government has already made notable progress, indicating an increase in teacher numbers this year and a rise in acceptance of training positions in fields such as chemistry, physics, and maths.
“However, we have more work ahead. We require talented individuals eager to motivate the next generation and transform the educational landscape,” she emphasized.
