Reporting year 2019

School workforce in England

Data guidance

Published

Description

This document describes the data included in the School Workforce in England National Statistics release’s underlying data files. This data is released under the terms of the Open Government License (opens in a new tab) and is intended to meet at least 3 stars for Open Data (opens in a new tab).

The methodology document should be referenced alongside this data. It provides information on the data sources, their coverage and quality as well as explaining methodology used in producing the data.

Coverage

The Statistical Publication: ‘School Workforce in England’ provides the latest information at national and local level on the number and characteristics of teachers and other school staff that work in state funded schools in England.

The publication summarises the information that was collected via the November 2019 School Workforce Census, the tenth running of the ‘census’ and links data from other sources including teachers’ pension administration data and the Database of Qualified Teachers. 

It includes information on:

  • Teacher numbers, characteristics and deployment - a time series of teacher numbers in all state funded schools in England. It provides various breakdowns of these; by post held, school type and phase, gender, age, ethnicity, whether they work full/part-time, have Qualified Teacher Status or not etc. 
  • Teacher turnover and retention - the number of qualified entrants to teaching (and whether they are new teachers or returners), their propensity to stay, and the numbers of qualified teachers leaving the teaching profession (e.g. through retirement or leaving early). 
  • Teacher pay - the salaries received (in £5/10 thousand bands) for all teachers and separately for classroom teachers, leadership group teachers, and head teachers. The statistics also provide an age, gender and school type/phase breakdown. Where appropriate, average mean and median salaries are provided for comparison purposes. A summary time series of mean averages on a comparable basis is also provided.
  • Statistics on support staff - the number of teaching assistants and school support staff employed by all state funded schools. This data shows the numbers by post held and has some limited characteristics data e.g. gender and ethnicity.
  • Teacher qualifications and curriculum taught - information on the highest post-A-level qualification held by teachers (by teacher grade and school type/phase). 

Estimates are also provided, based on a large sample of secondary schools, which show the number of teachers by subject, teaching at Key Stage 3-5 and the relevant number of hours taught.

The publication also provides estimates of the number/percentage of teachers teaching each subject that have relevant post-A-level qualifications in the subject. Similar data is produced showing the number of hours taught by teachers with relevant post-A-level qualifications in the subject.

  • Teacher vacancies - the number of advertised teaching posts that were either vacant or temporarily filled at the census date in November (which is mid term). It provides subject level estimates for these posts for secondary schools only.
  • Teacher sickness absence - the number of teachers that have taken sickness absence in the previous academic year and the number of days they were absent. 
  • Pupil teacher ratios - Pupil data from the January 2019 school census is used to produce pupil teacher ratios and pupil adult ratios (teachers and all classroom-based support) for each school type/phase.
  • Teacher retirements and teachers out of service - the overall number of teachers who have been awarded retirement benefits from the Teachers’ Pensions Scheme after leaving teaching service in England. Also included are estimates of the numbers of teachers with qualified teacher status in England who have left service or who never entered service.

The statistics published in the ‘School Workforce in England’ series of releases are predominantly based on information provided by schools and local authorities as part of the annual School Workforce Census.

The underlying data files include national, regional, local authority and school level information for schools in England.

File formats and conventions

Where is it decided disclosure control is necessary to protect confidentiality, symbols are used in the underlying data files as follows:

: Not available - this information has not been collected or there are no estimates available at this level of aggregation.

N/A  Not available - this is normally where a statistic cannot be produced. For example where a denominator is not available to produce a percentage. 

= confidential - where presentation of data would disclose confidential information, for example being able to identify details about a single respondent, this data must be suppressed and given this marker to maintain confidentiality clauses.

u = low reliability - this indicates observations/values for which the user should be aware of the low quality, for example where values of statistical significance have been calculated. The use of the 'u' depends on the context, therefore additional information, e.g. explanations about the reliability limits applicable, should be provided in the notes. 

z = not applicable. The 'z' symbol is only to be used when an observation is not applicable (e.g. in tables of employment where people under 16 cannot legally be employed).

Data files

All data files associated with this releases are listed below with guidance on their content. To download any of these files, please visit our data catalogue.

Pupil-teacher ratios

Filename
workforce_ptr_2018_19.csv
Geographic levels
Local authority; National; Regional
Time period
2018/19 to 2019/20
Content

Pupil: teacher ratios and pupil: adult ratios in state funded schools.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
number_schoolsNumber of schools
pupil_to_adult_ratioPupil to adult ratio within-schools
pupil_to_qual_teacher_ratioPupil to teacher ratio (Qualified) within-schools
pupil_to_qual_unqual_teacher_ratioPupil to teacher ratio (Qualified and unqualified teachers) within-schools
school_typeType of school
Footnotes
  1. Before using this data, please check the methodology section for important information such as definitions, limitations and caveats.

Qualified entrants to teaching

Filename
qual_entrants_nat.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2011/12 to 2019/20
Content

Full time equivalent (FTE) qualified teacher entrants by category including school type, gender, age group and type of entrant.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
age_groupAge group
entrant_typeType of entrant
fte_entrantsFTE number of entrants
fte_entrants_percentEntrants rate
genderGender
gradePost appointed to
school_typeType of school
working_patternWorking pattern
Footnotes
  1. Before using this data, please check the methodology section for important information such as definitions, limitations and caveats.

Qualified leavers from teaching

Filename
qual_leavers_nat.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2010/11 to 2018/19
Content

Qualified teacher leavers by category including school type, gender, age group and post on leaving.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
age_groupAge group
fte_leaversFTE number of leavers
fte_leavers_percentLeavers rate
genderGender
gradePost on leaving
leaver_typeType of leaver
school_typeType of school
working_patternWorking pattern
Footnotes
  1. Before using this data, please check the methodology section for important information such as definitions, limitations and caveats.

Qualified teachers never in service

Filename
T23_vals_tidy.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2017
Content

Teachers with qualified teacher status who have never been in service by calendar year qualified, gender and age.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
ageAge - Filter by age
genderGender - Filter by gender
number_of_teachersNumber of teachers
year_qualifiedYear qualified - Filter by year qualified
Footnotes
  1. Before using this data, please check the methodology section for important information such as definitions, limitations and caveats.
  2. Data sources are the Database of Qualified Teachers and teachers' pensions service records, (DTR).

Qualified teachers out of service

Filename
T22_vals_tidy.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2018
Content

Qualified teachers out of service who were previously in service, by last known sector, calendar year of last service, gender and age.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
ageAge - Filter by age
calendar_year_of_last_serviceCalendar year of last service - Filter by year of last service
genderGender - Filter by gender
qualified_teachers_out_of_serviceNumber of teachers
sectorSector - Filter by sector
Footnotes
  1. Before using this data, please check the methodology section for important information such as definitions, limitations and caveats.
  2. Data sources are the Database of Qualified Teachers and teachers' pensions service records, (DTR).

Retention of qualified teachers

Filename
retention_nat.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2019 November
Content

Full and part-time teachers by year of gaining qualified teacher status, who were in service the following year and the percentage recorded in service in state funded schools in England in each year after.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
retention_rateRetention rate
year_qualifiedYear in which teacher qualified
years_after_qualifyingYears after qualification where teacher is recorded as being in service
Footnotes
  1. Before using this data, please check the methodology section for important information such as definitions, limitations and caveats.

Specialist teachers in secondary schools

Filename
specialist_teachers_nat.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2014 November to 2019 November
Content

% of hours taught by a teacher with qualification in relevant subject and the % of teachers holding qualification in relevant subject by highest qualification of teacher and subject taught.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
%_hours% of hours taught by a teacher with qualification in relevant subject
%_hours_cl% of hours taught by a teacher with qualification in relevant subject - confidence limit
%_teachers% of teachers holding qualification in relevant subject
%_teachers_cl% of teachers holding qualification in relevant subject - confidence limit
highest_qualificationHighest qualification of teacher
subjectSubject taught
Footnotes
  1. Teachers were counted once against each subject that they were teaching, regardless of the amount of time they spend teaching the subject. Teachers were counted under each key stage they were recorded as teaching to; a mathematics teacher who taught all years (7-11) would be included under number of teachers of for years 7 through 9 and years 10 and 11. Teachers are counted against each subject taught, they may therefore appear under more than one category. However they will only appear once in the total regardless of the number of separate subjects taught.
  2. Before using this data, please check the methodology section for important information such as definitions, limitations and caveats.

Subjects taught by teachers in secondary schools

Filename
curriculum_nat.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2011 November to 2019 November
Content

Head count of teachers and the number of hours taught by subject to year groups 7-13 in all state funded secondary schools.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
hours_allyrsNumbers of hours taught for years 7 through 13
hours_yrs1011Numbers of hours taught for years 10 and 11
hours_yrs1213Numbers of hours taught for years 12 and 13
hours_yrs79Numbers of hours taught for years 7 through 9
subjectSubject taught
teachers_allyrsAll teachers of years 7 to 13
teachers_yrs1011Teachers teaching years 10 and 11
teachers_yrs1213Teachers teaching years 12 and 13
teachers_yrs79Teachers teaching years 7 through 9
Footnotes
  1. Teachers were counted once against each subject that they were teaching, regardless of the amount of time they spend teaching the subject. Teachers were counted under each key stage they were recorded as teaching to; a mathematics teacher who taught all years (7-11) would be included under number of teachers of for years 7 through 9 and years 10 and 11. Teachers are counted against each subject taught, they may therefore appear under more than one category. However they will only appear once in the total regardless of the number of separate subjects taught.
  2. Before using this data, please check the methodology section for important information such as definitions, limitations and caveats.

Support staff characteristics

Filename
workforce_support_staff_characteristics_nat_reg_la.csv
Geographic levels
Local authority; National; Regional
Time period
2011/12 to 2019/20
Content

Headcount and Full time Equivalent of support staff by type of school and characteristics including post held, age group and ethnicity (additional file at school level).

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
characteristicCharacteristic
full_time_equivalentFull-time equivalent
headcountHeadcount
school_typeType of school
Footnotes
  1. Before using this data, please check the methodology section for important information such as definitions, limitations and caveats.
  2. Figures for each ethnic group are based on the total number of staff where the ethnic details were provided. Figures for refused and not obtained are available, and should always be considered alongside any analysis, as the size of these ‘unknown’ groups may be comparable to the groups being examined.

Teacher and support staff FTE and headcount numbers

Filename
workforce_fte_hc_2010_2019_nat_reg_la.csv
Geographic levels
Local authority; National; Regional
Time period
2010/11 to 2019/20
Content

Teacher and support staff Full Time Equivalent and headcount numbers by type of school (additional file at school level).

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
fte_administrative_staffFTE of administrative staff
fte_all_teachersFTE of all teachers
fte_all_teachers_without_qtsFTE of all teachers without qualified teacher status
fte_assistant_head_teachersFTE of assistant head teachers
fte_auxiliary_staffFTE of auxiliary staff
fte_classroom_teachersFTE of classroom teachers
fte_deputy_head_teachersFTE of deputy head teachers
fte_ft_all_teachersFTE of all full-time teachers
fte_ft_all_teachers_without_qtsFTE of all full-time teachers without qualified teacher status
fte_ft_assistant_head_teachersFTE of full-time assistant head teachers
fte_ft_classroom_teachersFTE of full-time classroom teachers
fte_ft_deputy_head_teachersFTE of full-time deputy head teachers
fte_ft_head_teachersFTE of full-time head teachers
fte_ft_leadership_teachersFTE of full-time leadership teachers
fte_head_teachersFTE of head teachers
fte_leadership_teachersFTE of leadership teachers
fte_other_school_support_staffFTE of other school support staff
fte_pt_all_teachersFTE of all part-time teachers
fte_pt_all_teachers_without_qtsFTE of all part-time teachers without qualified teacher status
fte_pt_assistant_head_teachersFTE of part-time assistant head teachers
fte_pt_classroom_teachersFTE of part-time classroom teachers
fte_pt_deputy_head_teachersFTE of part-time deputy head teachers
fte_pt_head_teachersFTE of part-time head teachers
fte_pt_leadership_teachersFTE of part-time leadership teachers
fte_teaching_assistantsFTE of teaching assistants
fte_techniciansFTE of technicians
fte_workforceFTE of all workforce
hc_administrative_staffHeadcount of administrative staff
hc_all_teachersHeadcount of all teachers
hc_all_teachers_without_qtsHeadcount of all teachers without qualified teacher status
hc_assistant_head_teachersHeadcount of assistant head teachers
hc_auxiliary_staffHeadcount of auxiliary staff
hc_classroom_teachersHeadcount of classroom teachers
hc_deputy_head_teachersHeadcount of deputy head teachers
hc_ft_all_teachersHeadcount of all full-time teachers
hc_ft_all_teachers_without_qtsHeadcount of all full-time teachers without qualified teacher status
hc_ft_assistant_head_teachersHeadcount of full-time assistant head teachers
hc_ft_classroom_teachersHeadcount of full-time classroom teachers
hc_ft_deputy_head_teachersHeadcount of full-time deputy head teachers
hc_ft_head_teachersHeadcount of full-time head teachers
hc_ft_leadership_teachersHeadcount of full-time leadership teachers
hc_head_teachersHeadcount of head teachers
hc_leadership_teachersHeadcount of leadership teachers
hc_occasional_teachersHeadcount of occasional teachers
hc_other_school_support_staffHeadcount of other school support staff
hc_pt_all_teachersHeadcount of all part-time teachers
hc_pt_all_teachers_without_qtsHeadcount of all part-time teachers without qualified teacher status
hc_pt_assistant_head_teachersHeadcount of part-time assistant head teachers
hc_pt_classroom_teachersHeadcount of part-time classroom teachers
hc_pt_deputy_head_teachersHeadcount of part-time deputy head teachers
hc_pt_head_teachersHeadcount of part-time head teachers
hc_pt_leadership_teachersHeadcount of part-time leadership teachers
hc_teaching_assistantsHeadcount of teaching assistants
hc_techniciansHeadcount of technicians
hc_third_party_support_staffHeadcount of third-party staff
hc_workforceHeadcount of all workforce
number_schoolsNumber of schools
percent_pt_teacherPercent of all teachers that are part-time
ratio_of_teaching_assistants_to_all_teachersRatio of teaching assistants to all teachers
school_typeType of school
Footnotes
  1. Before using this data, please check the methodology section for important information such as definitions, limitations and caveats.

Teacher characteristics

Filename
workforce_teachers_characteristics_nat_reg_la.csv
Geographic levels
Local authority; National; Regional
Time period
2010/11 to 2019/20
Content

Teacher Full Time Equivalent and headcount numbers by type of school and characteristics including age group, working pattern, grade and ethnicity (additional file at school level). 

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
characteristicCharacteristic
full_time_equivalentFull-time equivalent
headcountHeadcount
school_typeType of school
Footnotes
  1. Before using this data, please check the methodology section for important information such as definitions, limitations and caveats.
  2. An unqualified teacher in a LA maintained school is either a trainee working towards QTS; an overseas trained teacher who has not exceeded the four years they are allowed to teach without achieving QTS or instructors with a particular skill who can be employed where no qualified teacher is available.
  3. Figures for each ethnic group are based on the total number of staff where the ethnic details were provided. Figures for refused and not obtained are available, and should always be considered alongside any analysis, as the size of these ‘unknown’ groups may be comparable to the groups being examined.

Teacher highest level of qualification

Filename
workforce_teacher_qual_lev_2010_19_nat_reg.csv
Geographic levels
National; Regional
Time period
2010/11 to 2019/20
Content

Headcount of teachers in state funded schools by type of school, grade and highest level of post A level qualification.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
gradeGrade of teacher
headcountHeadcount
highest_level_qualHighest level of qualification
school_typeType of school
Footnotes
  1. Before using this data, please check the methodology section for important information such as definitions, limitations and caveats.

Teacher pay

Filename
workforce_teacher_pay_2010_19_nat_reg_la.csv
Geographic levels
Local authority; National; Regional
Time period
2010/11 to 2019/20
Content

Full and part-time teachers in state funded schools by grade of teacher, salary bands, average salary, sector, gender and age (additional file at school level).

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
age_categoryAge of teachers
average_meanMean pay
average_medianMedian pay
genderGender of teacher
gradeGrade of teacher
headcount_£100_to_110KHeadcount of teachers earning £100-110K
headcount_£110K_and_overHeadcount of teachers earning £110K and over
headcount_£25_to_30KHeadcount of teachers earning £25-30K
headcount_£30_to_35KHeadcount of teachers earning £30-35K
headcount_£35_to_40KHeadcount of teachers earning £35-40K
headcount_£40_to_45KHeadcount of teachers earning £40-45K
headcount_£45_to_50KHeadcount of teachers earning £45-50K
headcount_£50_to_55KHeadcount of teachers earning £50-55K
headcount_£55_to_60KHeadcount of teachers earning £55-60K
headcount_£60_to_65KHeadcount of teachers earning £60-65K
headcount_£65_to_70KHeadcount of teachers earning £65-70K
headcount_£70_to_80KHeadcount of teachers earning £70-80K
headcount_£80_to_90KHeadcount of teachers earning £80-90K
headcount_£90_to_100KHeadcount of teachers earning £90-100K
headcount_allHeadcount of teachers
headcount_under£25KHeadcount of teachers earning under £25K
headcount_unknown_payHeadcount of teachers with unknown pay
school_typeType of school
teachers_on_leadership_pay_range_percentPercentage of teachers on leadership pay range
Footnotes
  1. Before using this data, please check the methodology section for important information such as definitions, limitations and caveats.

Teacher retirements

Filename
workforce_teachers_retirements_nat.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2011 to 2019
Content

Teacher retirements from state funded schools: Type of award by category including type of school, gender and year.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
ageAge retirement
age_groupAge group
all_retirementsAll retirements
arbAge ARB
characteristicCharacteristics
characteristic_groupCharacteristic group
genderGender
gradeGrade of last post
ill_healthIll health
prematurePremature
premature_arbPremature ARB
school_typeType of school
Footnotes
  1. Figures are based on information from the Teachers' Pensions Scheme and are first awards only. There is often a long gap, (deferment), between leaving service and a pension becoming payable. Therefore these figures will not agree with the retirements listed in the teacher wastage statistics which do not include these deferred awards.
  2. Before using this data, please check the methodology section for important information such as definitions, limitations and caveats.

Teacher sickness absence

Filename
Sickness_Absence_Teachers_National_Regional_LA_school.csv
Geographic levels
Local authority; National; Regional
Time period
2014/15 to 2018/19
Content

Teacher sickness absence in state funded schools including average number of days (all teachers) and total teachers taking absence.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
AverageNumberDays-AllteachersAverage number of Days - all teachers
AverageNumberDaysTakenAverage number of days taken
PercentageTakingAbsencePercentage taking absence
TotalNumberDaysLostTotal Number of Days lost
TotalTeachersTakingAbsenceTotal teachers taking absence
Footnotes
  1. Before using this data, please check the methodology section for important information such as definitions, limitations and caveats.
  2. The total teachers taking sickness absence and total days taken are estimates based on the schools that were able to make a full absence return. They are only available for England as a whole and not by region, local authority or school. For further details please see the methodology document.

Teacher subject vacancies secondary school

Filename
Vacancies_Teachers_Subject_National.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2010 November to 2019 November
Content

Full-time classroom teacher vacancies and temporary filled number of posts and rates in state funded secondary schools by subject.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
RateRate of vacancies and temporary filled posts
SubjectNameSubject of vacancy
VacancyNumber of teacher vacancies and temporary filled posts
Footnotes
  1. Subject vacancies include both standard definition vacancies and temporarily filled posts. They relate to classroom teachers in secondary schools only. Subject vacancy rates are calculated from the number of full-time classroom teachers in post broken down by the proportion of hours taught in each subject from the subject taught information.
  2. Before using this data, please check the methodology section for important information such as definitions, limitations and caveats.

Teacher vacancies

Filename
Vacancies_Number_Rates_Nat_Reg_LA.csv
Geographic levels
Local authority; National; Regional
Time period
2010 to 2019
Content

Full-time teacher vacancies, temporarily filled posts and rates in state funded schools by sector and grade.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
Post_GradeVacancy grade
RateRate of vacancies
school_typeType of school
TempFilledNumber of temporary filled posts
TempRateRate of temporary filled posts
VacancyNumber of teacher vacancies
Footnotes
  1. Before using this data, please check the methodology section for important information such as definitions, limitations and caveats.

Teacher vacancies by school

Filename
vacancies_number_rates__school.csv
Geographic levels
School
Time period
2010 November to 2019 November
Content

Full-time teacher vacancies, temporarily filled posts and rates in state funded schools by sector and grade.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
RateRate of vacancies
TempFilledNumber of temporary filled posts
TempRateRate of temporary filled posts
VacancyNumber of teacher vacancies
Footnotes
  1. Before using this data, please check the methodology section for important information such as definitions, limitations and caveats.