The Importance 
   of Teachers
   A collection of essays on teacher 
   recruitment and retention
   Edited by Jonathan Simons
    The Importance 
    of Teachers
    A collection of essays on teacher 
    recruitment and retention
    Edited by Jonathan Simons
     Policy Exchange is the UK’s leading think tank. We are an educational charity whose 
     mission is to develop and promote new policy ideas that will deliver better public 
     services, a stronger society and a more dynamic economy. 
     The authority and credibility of our research is our greatest asset. Our research is 
     independent and evidence-based, and we share our ideas with policymakers from all 
     sides of the political spectrum. Our research is strictly empirical and we do not take 
     commissions. This allows us to be completely independent and make workable policy 
     recommendations.
     For more information please contact us at: Clutha House, 10 Storey’s Gate,  
     London, SW1P 3AY. Alternatively we can be contacted on 020 7340 2650 and at  
     info@policyexchange.org.uk
     Trustees
     David Frum (Chairman of the Board), Diana Berry, Candida Gertler, Greta Jones, 
     Edward Lee, Charlotte Metcalf, Krishna Rao, Andrew Roberts, George Robinson, 
     Robert Rosenkranz, Peter Wall, Simon Wolfson
    © Policy Exchange 2016
    Published by
    Policy Exchange, Clutha House, 10 Storey’s Gate, London SW1P 3AY
    www.policyexchange.org.uk
    ISBN: 978-1-910812-09-9
    Printed by Heron, Dawson and Sawyer
    Designed by Soapbox, www.soapbox.co.uk
              Contents
               Acknowledgements                                                               5
                     About the Authors                                                        6
               Foreword                                                                      11
               Introduction                                                                  13
              1.     Let’s Talk About Flex
                     Jonathan Simons, Policy Exchange 15
              2.     Recruiting and Retaining Teachers – 
                     the Art of the Possible
                     Leora Cruddas, ASCL 23
                     Section 1: General Overview of the Teacher 
                     Supply Market
              3.     Fitting Together the Jigsaw – What of the Missing Piece?
                     Professor John Howson, University of Oxford 30
              4.     Tapping into the Most Competitive Recruitment 
               Market Ever
                     James Darley, Teach First 36
                     Section 2: The Role of Initial Teacher 
                     Training and Education
              5.     Initial Teacher Training – a Tragedy of the Commons?
                     Professor Chris Husbands, Sheffield Hallam University 44
              6.     The Initial Teacher Education We Need, 
                     Why We Don’t Have It, and How to Get It
                     Dr Jo Saxton, Future Academies                             50