THE latest teacher recruitment figures are “catastrophic,” with the government taking on just half of the number of secondary trainees it says it needs, the National Education Union (NEU) warned today.

Overall, the total target for recruitment of trainees in both primary and secondary teaching was missed by 38 per cent.

The secondary target has been missed in 10 out of the last 11 years.

NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede said: “Another year of this government missing its own initial teacher training recruitment targets.

“Last year’s figures seemed as bad as it could get, but this year it has recruited just 50 per cent of the number of secondary trainees it says it needs.”

Only history and PE currently have enough trainee teachers, he said, adding: “For many subjects, the picture is catastrophic. At a time when the Prime Minister is pushing increased maths provision, we are recruiting less than two-thirds the amount of maths teachers required to meet even current demand.”