Teacher numbers in England rise by 4,654
Education minister Georgia Gould gave the figures in a written answer about teacher retention in North Shropshire, where the local authority’s teacher numbers rose from 2,131 to 2,137.
The number of teachers has risen by 4,654 in a year, taking the government more than 71% of the way to its target of 6,500 additional teachers, education minister Georgia Gould has said.
Gould gave the figures on 18 September in a written parliamentary answer to Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan.
Morgan, who represents North Shropshire, had asked what assessment the department had made of teacher retention in the area and its impact on schools.
Gould said teacher numbers in the Shropshire local authority had “increased slightly year on year”, from 2,131 in 2024-25 to 2,137 in 2025-26.
Nationally, the increase of 4,654 includes 3,008 more teachers in secondary and special schools and 1,646 more in further education, the minister said.
The figures come from the school workforce census, which covers publicly funded schools in England, according to the Department for Education.
The latest School Workforce Census recorded the lowest rate of teachers leaving outside the pandemic, at 8.5%, and a record 17,740 returning to the classroom, Gould said.
The minister said school teachers’ pay would have risen by 17% by September 2027 “since this government took power”.
The government was also acting on pupil behaviour, workload and wellbeing “to encourage even more teachers to stay in the profession”, Gould said.
The answer does not give a separate figure for the North Shropshire constituency, or an assessment of the impact on its schools.
The written question and answer in full
Question
Asked by Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat, North Shropshire) on 10 September 2026. UIN 28871.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made on the level of teaching staff retention in North Shropshire; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the level of teaching staff in that area on schools.
Answer
Answered by Georgia Gould, Minister of State (Education), Department for Education, on 18 September 2026.
Teacher numbers in the Shropshire local authority increased slightly year on year. The department’s latest data reported that there were 2,137 teachers in 2025/26 compared to 2,131 in 2024/25.
Nationally, we have achieved over 71% of our 6,500 additional teachers target. There are 4,654 more teachers in 2025/26 compared with 2024/25, including 3,008 more teachers in secondary and special schools and 1,646 more teachers in further education.
The latest School Workforce Census also reported the lowest leaver rate (8.5%) outside the pandemic and a record number of teachers (17,740) returning to the classroom.
By September 2027, school teachers will have seen an increase in their pay of 17% since this government took power, and we are taking action to tackle poor pupil behaviour, reduce high workload and improve wellbeing to encourage even more teachers to stay in the profession.