UK experiencing a worsening shortage of Mathematics teachers

The UK is experiencing a shortage of mathematics teachers. According to Times Higher Education, a leading British mathematician has linked this shortage of math teachers to the high number of graduates from Russell Group universities who rarely pursue careers in the education sector.

Catherine Hobbs, the Director of the Heilbronn Institute for Mathematical Research, spoke at a summit and highlighted that the failure to train enough math teachers could be attributed to shifting patterns of undergraduate recruitment over the past decade.

“Meanwhile, annual enrolments in maths have reduced to a few dozen at some institutions with middling tariffs (cheaper fees).

“Some departments are getting smaller and smaller until they are not viable and this is significant for teaching because about 25% go into maths teaching but just 8% from the upper echelons [higher tariff institutions] go into maths teaching”, she said.

The shortage of math teachers is becoming increasingly apparent due to Rishi Sunak’s plan. He mandated math education for all school students in England until they reached the age of 18.

This initiative, announced in January 2023, will necessitate the recruitment of many more math teachers.

Impact of institutional changes on Math education

Professor Hobbs pointed out that the UK was experiencing an increase in “maths deserts” due to the closure of lower tariff maths departments.