Think tank and charity call for free access to professional development to tackle attainment gap and teacher shortages
The Government is being urged to invest £260 million in teacher training to improve educational outcomes and reduce teacher shortages, in a major new report by a leading think tank and education charity.
The IPPR and Ambition Institute have called for the creation of a national entitlement to professional development for all teachers and school leaders. This initiative, they argue, would establish a “golden thread” of core training qualifications accessible to all teaching staff, serving as a consistent and high-quality development path throughout their careers.
According to the report, such investment would act as a critical “first step” in addressing the growing attainment gap between pupils from different socio-economic backgrounds. The funding could reach approximately 75% of the teaching workforce within four years if adopted, offering far-reaching impact across the education sector.
The proposed entitlement includes free places on government-funded training programmes, alongside additional grants to schools to offset the cost of staff cover. Particular emphasis would be placed on schools in disadvantaged areas, with greater support directed where the need is greatest.
Loic Menzies, associate fellow at IPPR and lead author of the report, said: “Investment in the expertise of all teachers and the wider education workforce is the best way to unleash a powerful cycle of improvement. Right now, schools face a workforce crisis alongside a growing attainment gap. If we want schools to serve children of all backgrounds better, we need to invest in teachers and others in the classroom.”
He added: “Free access to a ‘golden thread’ of high-quality training opportunities should sit at the heart of that commitment and would empower teachers to provide the world-class education our children deserve.”
The report comes as teaching unions warn of potential strike action in response to dissatisfaction with the Government’s pay and funding proposals. Both the National Education Union (NEU) and NASUWT have indicated that ballots for industrial action could be launched if no improvements are made.
Marie Hamer, executive director for strategy and impact at Ambition Institute, echoed the report’s urgency: “Effective teaching disproportionately benefits pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with special educational needs and disabilities. If we want high and rising standards, then investing in developing expert teachers is our best option.”
The proposals have gained support from school leadership representatives. Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: “We cannot raise standards without raising the expertise of our teachers and school leaders. That is why professional development is so important. Crucially, this investment needs to be implemented through proven, contextually informed strategies and prioritised in those places that need it most, and for those pupils who need it most.”
Labour’s general election manifesto has already pledged to introduce a new “teacher training entitlement”, signalling potential alignment with the IPPR-Ambition recommendations if the party forms the next Government.
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Meanwhile, the Education Policy Institute (EPI) has also published findings highlighting a “workforce quality gap” between schools serving the most disadvantaged pupils and their more affluent counterparts. The EPI has recommended enhanced professional development and retention incentives to help keep experienced teachers in the classroom, especially in schools facing the most difficult challenges.
The Department for Education (DfE) responded on Tuesday by highlighting the expansion of its new school improvement initiative. The regional improvement for standards and excellence (Rise) teams will now work with over 200 schools, up from 32 initially, reaching more than 120,000 pupils.
The DfE has also earmarked up to £100,000 in specialist support for schools deemed “stuck” following consecutive poor Ofsted reports.
However, campaigners and education experts warn that without sustained and targeted investment in teacher development, efforts to boost standards may fall short. The IPPR and Ambition Institute’s call for a structured, universally available training entitlement presents a clear and ambitious blueprint for long-term educational improvement.
