Teacher numbers plummet despite Labour's 'vindictive' private school tax to pay for more

By ELEANOR HARDING, EDUCATION EDITOR Published: 12:36, 4 June 2026 | Updated: 12:50, 4 June 2026 Teacher numbers have plummeted despite Labour's 'vindictive' tax on private schools to pay for a promise of 6,500 more.  New official statistics show there were 466,372 teachers in 2025, a decrease of 1,900 on the year before, when Labour came to power. The data, which is the latest available, shows falls at both primary and secondary level – with only special needs teacher numbers growing. The Government said the reductions were due to a fall in pupil numbers due to a declining birth rate, and that primary schools were never included in the recruitment target. It said teacher numbers are up in further education settings – not included in the statistics. Ministers have repeatedly said the painful new VAT on private school fees was necessary to pay for an extra 6,500 teachers for state education by the end of this Parliament. Laura Trott, Shadow Education Secretary, said: 'Labour claimed that taxing education would boost teacher numbers in state schools. Instead teacher numbers have fallen, while children have faced the disruption of school closures and mid-year transfers. 'This is another broken promise from Labour and only piling more pressure on state schools.' Teacher numbers have plummeted despite Labour's tax on private schools to pay for a promise of 6,500 more (pictured: Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson) Shadow Business and Trade Minister Gareth Davies added: 'The whole pretext for Labour vindictively taxing private education was their manifesto pledge of 6,500 extra teachers. 'Now it turns out that teacher numbers have plummeted. Another promise broken and in the dust.' Even Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union (NEU) agreed, saying it 'made a mockery of the Government's promise'. The data, from the Department for Education (DfE), shows there were 212,800 teachers in state-funded nursery and primary schools, a decrease of 2,900. And in secondary schools, there were 218,500 – a decrease of 500. Meanwhile, there were 30,300 in special needs schools and pupil referral units, an increase of 1,100, and 4,800 teachers who were centrally employed by councils, an increase of 300. The Government said separately there had been an increase of 1,646 more teachers in further education, although this was not included in the statistics. In addition, it said teacher retention is at 'one of its strongest levels on record', with around 2,100 fewer teachers leaving the profession compared to last year. New official statistics show there were 466,372 teachers in 2025, a decrease of 1,900 on the year before, when Labour came to power (pictured: protesters against the private school tax last year)  And it said when comparing today's statistics to an earlier point in 2023, there had been an overall increase in secondary school teachers.  Unveiling the data, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said on X: 'Latest stats show we're over 70 per cent of the way to our target to recruit 6,500 teachers in the places they're needed most. We have 4,654 more teachers in those schools and colleges compared to 2024. 'Bonus good news: the future of teaching looks really promising. Today's stats show one of the lowest rates of teachers leaving their jobs on record. 'There's also been a 13 per cent rise in people training to teach, smashing recruitment targets in subjects like maths and science.' The Government said it was still 'on track' to meet its recruitment target. Ministers have a long record of claiming the extra £1.7 billion a year raised by 2029-30 from the tax would be given to state schools. In December last year, the chancellor Rachel Reeves said: 'Every single penny of that money will go into our state schools to ensure every child gets the best start in life, and that is so often through being able to recruit and retain the best teachers.' In October, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson was slammed for mocking private school parents by saying: 'Our state schools need teachers more than private schools need embossed stationery.' Yesterday, figures from the Independent Schools Council showed there are now 30,000 fewer pupils in private schools since before Labour came to power in 2024. Today shadow Education Minister Saqib Bhatti said on X: '1,900 fewer teachers! Independent schools being taxed into oblivion and what is happening to all that money? 'Where are the 6,500 extra teachers that Labour promised? 'With fewer teachers and more pupils moving into state schools it is quite clear that the state sector will be put under greater strain.' Iain Mansfield, of the Policy Exchange think tank, said: '30,000 fewer children in private schools. 1,900 fewer teachers in state schools. A lose/lose proposition.' The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. 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