Professor Chris Husbands, director of London University’s Institute of Education, said a shortfall of 6,000 teachers could leave schools in a “bad place” next year.
Figures from the Department for Education (DfE) show there are 38,900 places allocated for post-graduate training programmes and the government’s School Direct scheme this year.
But just 32,950 student teachers have been accepted so far, leaving a shortfall of almost 6,000.
Answering questions at an all-party House of Commons Education Select Committee hearing, Prof Husbands said he feared a teacher shortage was imminent.
“I think that we already have a serious problem,” he told MPs.
“Ten out of 13 secondary subject lines are failing to meet the allocations this year. The shortfall in maths and physics is a very serious problem. Biology has failed to recruit to its allocation and that has not happened for several years.
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