The Department for Education (DfE) has released the Initial Teacher Training Census 2025/26, revealing a significant rise in new entrants to teacher training programmes across England. This year’s data shows 32,175 trainee teachers starting Initial Teacher Training (ITT), marking a 12% increase on 2024/25 and signalling renewed momentum in the teacher recruitment pipeline.
The annual ITT Census provides the most comprehensive picture of who is entering the teaching profession, how recruitment compares to national targets, and where shortages remain. With many schools continuing to face recruitment pressures, this year’s rise is welcome news, particularly in primary and STEM subjects.
Key Headline Figures for the 2025/26 ITT Census
- 32,175 total new entrants to teacher training (+12% year-on-year)
- 26,620 postgraduate trainees (+10%)
- 5,555 undergraduate trainees (+16%)
- Primary recruitment met 126% of the target; the first-time targets have been exceeded since 2021/22
- Secondary recruitment hit 86% of the target, up from 62% last year
- STEM subjects exceeded combined training targets for the first time on record, achieving 107%
- Notable increases in: Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, PE, History, English, and Geography
These numbers include both funded and self-funded trainee teachers, as well as candidates training via fee-funded, salaried, and apprenticeship routes.
Primary Teacher Recruitment Surges Past Targets
One of the standout findings from the 2025/26 Initial Teacher Training Census is the strong performance in primary ITT.
- 126% of the primary postgraduate target was achieved, reflecting a substantial increase in trainee numbers.
- This growth follows several years of under-recruitment and marks an important step towards stabilising the primary workforce.
- Both undergraduate programmes and postgraduate fee-funded routes contributed to the rise.
For schools, this will help alleviate pressure caused by previous shortfalls, although local and regional disparities remain.
Secondary Teacher Training Sees Improvements – Led by STEM
Secondary recruitment has historically struggled to meet national targets, but the 2025/26 census shows encouraging progress:
- Secondary postgraduate ITT achieved 86% of the national target, a significant improvement on last year’s 62%.
- Eight secondary subjects exceeded their recruitment targets, including:
Record STEM Recruitment
STEM subjects were a key driver of growth:
- 6,742 trainees entered STEM postgraduate routes in 2025/26
- This represents a 21% increase, reaching 107% of the combined STEM recruitment target
- Physics and Computing still fell short of targets, but both saw double-digit increases in trainee numbers
The uplift suggests that recent government incentives, improved graduate interest, and new pathways such as apprenticeships are beginning to have an impact.
Demographics: Who Is Training to Teach in 2025/26?
The Initial Teacher Training Census also provides valuable insight into trainee characteristics:
- 69% of postgraduate trainees are female; 31% male
- Primary ITT continues to see very low male representation (14%)
- Half of postgraduate entrants are aged under 25, reflecting a growing interest from recent graduates
- Ethnic diversity among trainees continues to grow, with 31% of trainees identifying as non-White
- 20% of trainees who declared a disability reported having one, up from 19% last year
These trends highlight ongoing challenges around diversity and representation in teaching, especially within primary settings and STEM subjects.
Pressure Still Mounts Despite Improved Recruitment
Although the 2025/26 teacher training numbers are moving in the right direction, the sector continues to face long-term recruitment and retention challenges:
- Many subjects remain below target, particularly modern foreign languages, physics, and design & technology
- Salaried training routes, often essential for career-changers, showed mixed performance
- Schools continue to report difficulties in filling teaching and support roles, especially in shortage subjects
Increasing recruitment alone will not fully resolve the teacher supply issue; retention, pay, workload and career progression will all play major roles in stabilising the workforce.
You can access the full report from the Department for Education via the government’s Explore Education Statistics website.
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