Robin Walker corrected a written answer on Teachers: Qualifications

7 April 2022 · Commons written answer · Department for Education

Kate Green (Labour, Stretford and Urmston) asked written question 57024 on 15 October 2021. Mr Robin Walker answered on 29 October 2021 for the Department for Education, and Mr Robin Walker corrected the answer on 7 April 2022. The correction replaced 4 figures (2,948, 209, 292, 400) with 4 figures (2,957, 225, 271, 293). Altogether 11 words differ between the two versions.

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 5 July 2021 to Question 25092 on Teachers: arts, how many schools lack a qualified teacher in each subject.

Original and corrected answer

Struck through: original only. Bold: correction only.

Original	Corrected
Legislation does not specify that teachers must have a degree in a particular subject or discipline. The Teachers’ Standards specify the subject knowledge required for the award of qualified teacher status. All trainee teachers must meet these by the time they complete their training. In November 2019, of ~~2,948~~ state-funded secondary schools in England, the most common subjects taught where no teachers in a school held a relevant post A level qualification in the subject ~~were~~ computing ~~(400),~~ Spanish ~~(292)~~ and media studies ~~(209).~~ The attached table provides further detail on all subjects. These figures relate only to schools where the subjects were taught. For example, a school that does not teach engineering and does not have a teacher with a post A level qualification in engineering is excluded from figures. In addition, figures only include schools that supplied both curriculum and teacher qualification data. This differs to the methodology used in the answer to question 25092, which included all schools, regardless of curriculum data and subjects taught. The present methodology better reflects the status of schools who do not have teachers with a post A level qualification in specific subjects. The information provided does not consider the subject taught by teachers. For example, a teacher with a qualification in mathematics may instead teach computer science. Information on subjects taught and teacher’s post A level qualifications is published in the ‘School Workforce in England’ statistical publication at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-workforce-in-england To reduce the burden during the COVID-19 outbreak, schools and local authorities were not required to provide information on teacher qualifications in 2020. Therefore, the information provided relates to the November 2019 School Workforce Census.	Legislation does not specify that teachers must have a degree in a particular subject or discipline. The Teachers’ Standards specify the subject knowledge required for the award of qualified teacher status. All trainee teachers must meet these by the time they complete their training. In November 2019, of 2,957 state-funded secondary schools in England, the most common subjects taught where no teachers in a school held relevant post A level qualification in the subject were: computing (293), Spanish (271) and media studies (225). The attached table provides further detail on all subjects. These figures relate only to schools where the subjects were taught. For example, a school that does not teach engineering and does not have a teacher with a post A level qualification in engineering is excluded from figures. In addition, figures only include schools that supplied both curriculum and teacher qualification data. This differs to the methodology used in the answer to question 25092, which included all schools, regardless of curriculum data and subjects taught. The present methodology better reflects the status of schools who do not have teachers with a post A level qualification in specific subjects. The information provided does not consider the subject taught by teachers. For example, a teacher with a qualification in mathematics may instead teach computer science. Information on subjects taught and teacher’s post A level qualifications is published in the ‘School Workforce in England’ statistical publication at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-workforce-in-england To reduce the burden during the COVID-19 outbreak, schools and local authorities were not required to provide information on teacher qualifications in 2020. Therefore, the information provided relates to the November 2019 School Workforce Census.

Original

Corrected

Legislation does not specify that teachers must have a degree in a particular subject or discipline. The Teachers’ Standards specify the subject knowledge required for the award of qualified teacher status. All trainee teachers must meet these by the time they complete their training.
In November 2019, of ~~2,948~~ state-funded secondary schools in England, the most common subjects taught where no teachers in a school held a relevant post A level qualification in the subject ~~were~~ computing ~~(400),~~ Spanish ~~(292)~~ and media studies ~~(209).~~ The attached table provides further detail on all subjects.
These figures relate only to schools where the subjects were taught. For example, a school that does not teach engineering and does not have a teacher with a post A level qualification in engineering is excluded from figures. In addition, figures only include schools that supplied both curriculum and teacher qualification data. This differs to the methodology used in the answer to question 25092, which included all schools, regardless of curriculum data and subjects taught. The present methodology better reflects the status of schools who do not have teachers with a post A level qualification in specific subjects.
The information provided does not consider the subject taught by teachers. For example, a teacher with a qualification in mathematics may instead teach computer science. Information on subjects taught and teacher’s post A level qualifications is published in the ‘School Workforce in England’ statistical publication at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-workforce-in-england
To reduce the burden during the COVID-19 outbreak, schools and local authorities were not required to provide information on teacher qualifications in 2020. Therefore, the information provided relates to the November 2019 School Workforce Census.

Legislation does not specify that teachers must have a degree in a particular subject or discipline. The Teachers’ Standards specify the subject knowledge required for the award of qualified teacher status. All trainee teachers must meet these by the time they complete their training.
In November 2019, of 2,957 state-funded secondary schools in England, the most common subjects taught where no teachers in a school held relevant post A level qualification in the subject were: computing (293), Spanish (271) and media studies (225). The attached table provides further detail on all subjects.
These figures relate only to schools where the subjects were taught. For example, a school that does not teach engineering and does not have a teacher with a post A level qualification in engineering is excluded from figures. In addition, figures only include schools that supplied both curriculum and teacher qualification data. This differs to the methodology used in the answer to question 25092, which included all schools, regardless of curriculum data and subjects taught. The present methodology better reflects the status of schools who do not have teachers with a post A level qualification in specific subjects.
The information provided does not consider the subject taught by teachers. For example, a teacher with a qualification in mathematics may instead teach computer science. Information on subjects taught and teacher’s post A level qualifications is published in the ‘School Workforce in England’ statistical publication at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-workforce-in-england
To reduce the burden during the COVID-19 outbreak, schools and local authorities were not required to provide information on teacher qualifications in 2020. Therefore, the information provided relates to the November 2019 School Workforce Census.

The question and answer on the Parliament website.

Related key figures

Teachers in state-funded schools in England

Receipt

Read from	https://questions-statements-api.parliament.uk/api/writtenquestions/questions/1359792?expandMember=true
Date read	15 October 2026
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