School Workforce in England 2024: Key Facts and Figures

Thursday, June 5, 2025

The Department for Education has released its School Workforce 2024 data, revealing that there were only 524 more full-time teacher entrants than leavers over the last academic year. This means that the total number of full-time equivalent (FTE) teachers in England fell slightly by 0.1%, continuing a concerning trend of stagnation in workforce growth.

The School Workforce data is primarily sourced from the annual November census, which collects detailed staffing information from state-funded schools and local authorities across England.

West Midlands School Workforce Key Facts and Figures for 2024:

  • There are 52,204 FTE teachers in the West Midlands – a decrease of 100 from 2023.
  • There are 31,181 FTE teaching assistants, an increase of 1,446 year-on-year.
  • Pupil-to-teacher ratios remain above the national average: 21.6 in nurseries and primary schools, 16.9 in secondary schools and 7.0 in special and PRU schools.
  • Teacher vacancies have continued to rise, increasing by 18% to 366 vacancies across the region.
  • Temporarily filled posts are also up again, reaching 487 across the West Midlands.
  • The average teacher salary in the West Midlands is now £45,518, slightly below the national average but up from last year.

National School Workforce Key Facts and Figures for 2024:

  • The total number of FTE teachers decreased by 435, with the national total now at 468,258.
  • There are now 288,812 FTE teaching assistants, up by 5,887 from 2023.
  • National pupil-to-teacher ratios have remained stable. 20.8 in nurseries and primary schools, 16.7 in secondary schools and 6.6 in special and PRU schools.
  • There were 41,736 entrants and 41,212 leavers, leading to only a net gain of 524 teachers.
  • Teacher vacancies rose by 14%, from 2,800 to 3,200 nationally.
  • Temporarily filled posts increased by 6%, up to 3,875.
  • The average teacher salary in England now stands at £49,084, reflecting a 5.5% rise.

The 2024 data highlights a relatively stable school workforce in England, with slight improvements in retention and teacher pay. However, ongoing challenges in recruitment, especially in secondary education and specific subjects, underscore the need for continued strategic initiatives to attract and retain qualified teachers.