Written evidence submission to the Children, Young People and Education Committee on the inquiry on ‘teacher recruitment and retention’

Gupta, Achala and Newman, Rachele (2025) Written evidence submission to the Children, Young People and Education Committee on the inquiry on ‘teacher recruitment and retention’ , University of Southampton, 5pp.

Record type: Book

Abstract

This submission draws on primary research, situated within the context of teacher recruitment and retention crisis, for which data was produced in 2023-24, through 36 semi-structured, hour-long interviews with school leaders, early-career teachers (ECTs) and ECT mentors, followed by three 2-hour long focus groups, one for each group (school leaders responsible for ECT programme), those who receive this support (ECTs) and those who provide it (ECT mentors) across four secondary schools in the South of England, encompassing local authority, multi-academy, independent, and faith-based settings.
The findings, although based primarily in the context of England, may still be applicable to the Welsh case, demonstrate that inconsistent and undervalued mentorship provision is a critical but underexploited factor in the current recruitment and retention crisis. This research calls for targeted investment in mentorship infrastructure, supported by subject-specific training, clearer progression pathways, and systemic recognition of mentors' roles across schools.

Text

Evidence for PURE with DOI - AG240725

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