Teacher training entrants rise 11% as primary recruitment exceeds target
Against Department for Education targets, 99% of the postgraduate initial teacher training target for 2025/26 was met. This reflects both higher entrant numbers and a 19% reduction in the target itself – from 33,355 in 2024/25 to 26,920 in 2025/26
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The number of new entrants to initial teacher training in England rose to 32,175 in 2025/26, an 11% increase on the revised 28,898 recorded in 2024/25, according to the Department for Education’s latest census.
The provisional figures show a second consecutive annual rise after several years of decline following the 2020/21 peak of 40,953. This year’s total moves recruitment closer to pre-pandemic levels of 34,314 in 2019/20.
Postgraduate routes accounted for most of the growth. There were 26,620 postgraduate entrants in 2025/26, up 10% from 24,108 the previous year. Recruitment increased in both primary and secondary subjects, with primary postgraduate numbers reversing a downward trend seen since the pandemic period.
Secondary postgraduate recruitment rose for a third consecutive year and is now broadly in line with pre-pandemic levels.
Undergraduate routes saw 5,555 entrants, a 16% rise from 4,790 in 2024/25. This includes 181 entrants to the new teacher degree apprenticeship, introduced in 2025/26.
For the first time, self-funded trainees have been included in recruitment figures. These include some international trainees and salaried trainees teaching in private schools or studying non-DfE-funded subjects. Their inclusion applies to data from 2019/20 onwards. Earlier years were not adjusted due to changes in data sources.
Against Department for Education targets, 99% of the postgraduate initial teacher training target for 2025/26 was met. This reflects both higher entrant numbers and a 19% reduction in the target itself – from 33,355 in 2024/25 to 26,920 in 2025/26. Self-funded trainees count towards targets for the first time this year but are excluded from performance figures for earlier years to maintain comparability.
Primary recruitment exceeded its postgraduate target at 126%, up from 90% last year. It is the sixth time the primary target has been met since 2012/13 and the first since 2021/22.
Meanwhile, Secondary recruitment reached 88% of its target, compared with 61% in 2024/25. The target has not been met since 2012/13, except in 2020/21.
Within secondary subjects, recruitment exceeded targets in art and design, biology, chemistry, English, geography, history, mathematics and physical education. Targets were not met in the remaining subjects.