In June we reported on initial teacher education data which signposted the under recruitment and under funding of art and design trainee teachers. Using this data, published by the Department for Education (DfE) together with new testimonies from NSEAD members, we have written to Gillian Keegan MP. We are calling for the reinstatement of bursaries for art and design trainees and to increase the art and design teacher supply target.
The DfE's data shows the number of teacher vacancies in our subject have risen to the highest level recorded in a twelve-year period. The reported ‘Rate of vacancies’ has risen in a year from 0.4 in 2021/22 to 0.7 in 2022/23. With the full support of the chair and vice-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Art, Craft and Design in Education (APPG) we have written to Gillian Keegan, Secretary of State for Education, asking her to reinstate art and design bursaries and increase the supply of art and design teachers entering the profession.
Read our letter to Gillian Keegan here.
In plain sight our member forums show the impact of ITT policy decisions on both teachers and learners. Due to shortages of teacher supply, some art and design lessons are reportedly taught by non-specialists, which in turn results in fewer practical lessons. Already this is impacting on the wellbeing and workload of teachers – we believe this will in turn impact on standards. We have shared member testimonies with Gillian Keegan.
We are extremely grateful for the support of Sharon Hodgson MP, chair of for Art, Craft and Design Education, and Earl Clancarty (Nick Trench), vice-chair. The recently published Art Now Inquiry, commissioned by the APPG (and co-authored by NSEAD), offers five recommendations, with recommendation #4 calling for the Government to address teacher recruitment, retention and representation in art and design.
With the support of Sharon Hodgson, Nick Trench and Marlene Wylie, President of NSEAD, our co-signed letter to the Secretary of State asks for the government to reinstate art and design ITT bursaries and increase teacher supply. We are asking the Government to act now in order to avert further damage to our subject, to teachers, trainees and learners.
(Source: Explore education statistics)