Teachers in state-funded schools in England

Source: Department for Education (DfE), series Full-time equivalent teachers (qualified and unqualified), state-funded schools, England. Annual, usually early June, from the school workforce census taken the previous November (4 June 2026 for November 2025). Data downloads and the DfE public statistics API are linked from the release page

What it measures

This is the full-time equivalent number of qualified and unqualified teachers working in state-funded schools in England, including academies, free schools, special schools and pupil referral units, in the November census. It does not include independent schools, teaching assistants, or occasional and agency teachers on short engagements. The headcount of teachers, which counts each person once whatever their hours, was 512,000. The same release covers teaching assistants, pay, vacancies, entrants and leavers.

How to read it

A fall in teachers alongside a fall in pupils can leave class sizes unchanged, so the DfE suggests reading teacher numbers together with the pupil to teacher ratio (17.9 in 2025/26) and class sizes. The Government's pledge of 6,500 additional teachers is measured differently, covering secondary and special schools plus further education against a 2023 baseline, so its progress figure (4,654) is not the change in this total. Headcount and FTE trends can diverge when more teachers work part time.

Background

The DfE reported 466,400 FTE teachers in November 2025, a fall of 1,900 (0.4%) on the year but 24,900 (5.6%) more than in 2010/11. Nursery and primary teacher numbers fell by 2,900 as primary rolls declined, secondary fell by 500, and special school and PRU teachers rose by 1,100. The number of qualified teachers joining state-funded schools was 41,012 FTE and leaving 38,632 FTE. Teacher retention one year after qualifying was 89.7%, and median teacher pay was £51,048.

Other parts of the UK

Scottish Government: school education statistics (includes teacher census) · Welsh Government: school workforce census results · Department of Education Northern Ireland: education statistics

How many teachers are there in England?

There were 466,372 full-time equivalent teachers in state-funded schools in England in November 2025, according to the DfE, published on 4 June 2026. The headcount was about 512,000. Independent school teachers are not included.

Is the number of teachers in England falling?

It fell by 1,900 FTE (0.4%) in the year to November 2025. Primary and nursery teacher numbers fell as pupil numbers declined, while special school teacher numbers rose. The total is still 5.6% higher than in 2010/11.

How many teachers leave the profession in England?

The DfE counted 38,632 FTE qualified teachers leaving state-funded schools in the year to November 2025, 2,100 fewer than the year before. Leavers include retirements and moves to independent schools or abroad.

What is the average teacher salary in England?

The median pay of teachers in state-funded schools in England was £51,048 in 2025/26, a 4% increase on 2024/25, according to the school workforce census. Pay varies by region and by years since qualification.

How many teachers are there in the UK?

Each nation counts its own teachers. Add the DfE figure for England to the teacher censuses of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, using FTE or headcount consistently, and note their different census dates.

Related questions

• How many teachers are there in England?
• How many pupils are in schools in England?
• How are public sector pay rises decided?
• How do I use Explore Education Statistics?

More on this source: Explore education statistics (Department for Education)