MAC
investigates
teaching shortages

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) is asking for evidence of the need to include more teaching roles on the Shortage Occupation List (SOL).

The SOL is a government list which outlines those professions which are experiencing a skills shortage in the UK.

The inclusion of a role on the shortage occupation list allows a skilled professional to be hired for this role from outside the EEA without the need for a Resident Labour Market Test. Shortage occupation roles can therefore be filled quickly and easily by external talent, and are a valuable commodity for many employers working within industries which are experiencing a severe lack of skilled expertise.

Currently included on the SOL are teaching roles in mathematics, physics and chemistry, but the MAC has been asked to identify whether or not there is a national shortage of skilled teaching professionals in any other subjects, most particularly across the fields of Mandarin, computer science, and design and technology.

To this end, the Partial review of the Shortage Occupation List: Teachers is looking to answer the following main questions:

  • What are the overall trends in the recruitment of foreign (European Economic Area (EEA) and non-EEA) born teachers in recent years?
  • What are the factors currently driving demand for non-EEA teachers? Are these factors temporary?
  • Have you experienced any barriers in the recruitment of non-EEA teachers (e.g. the Tier 2 General cap being reached in 2015)? If so, what did you do to overcome any issues and address your vacancies?

Schools and educational parties are encouraged to submit their views and evidence to the MAC by Friday 16 September in order to help inform their review, which must be submitted to the government in November.

Evidence can be submitted to the MAC via post or email.

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