Schools lack funding for teacher training, report shows

More than 600 schools are spending “next to nothing” on developing their teachers, a study has shown.

According to research by the charity, Teacher Development Trust, 21,000 teachers in schools have reported that they have no continued professional development (CPD) budget at all.

The information shows that across the whole sector, schools spend an average of 0.7 per cent of their income on training their teachers.

The trust, which aims to transform professional learning in school, also found that secondary school staff are the most disadvantaged, with just 0.37 per cent of budget being spent on CPD.

Primary schools receive more, with 0.65 per cent of funds dedicated to improving staff and pupils.

Guidelines released by the Department of Education (DfE) also states that all CPD should focus on improving pupils. However, the money spent on teacher training equates to only £33 per pupil each year.

David Weston, CEO of Teacher Development Trust, commented: “These statistics are extremely concerning.
“Teachers want to stay up-to-date with the best ways to help their pupils and they deserve a decent investment in training.”

Weston continued: “Whilst we recognise that schools budgets are being increasingly squeezed, it is vital that senior leaders and governors in schools realise the consequences of not investing in their staff.”

Deputy headteacher of Quintin Kynaston, Ross McGill, who is also part of the Teacher Development Trust’s National CPD Network, stated that “it is deeply inadequate that schools are squeezed into a corner” and “forced to make a decision to cut, or have no CPD budget available to their staff”.