The guide, 'Keeping good teachers - effective strategies in teacher retention', is in line with the Government's proposals to re-model the school workforce.

It highlights good practice in a range of schools, covering preparing and equipping teachers for their work, workload management and support, motivating and empowering staff, and implementing and evaluating retention strategies.

Mary Doherty, the TTA's Director of Teacher Supply and Recruitment, said:

'A great deal of effort is invested in recruiting and training good teachers. Devising effective retention strategies will bring long term benefits, contributing to school development, and supporting every pupil to achieve their potential.

'In the light of the key messages in this guide - introducing flexible working patterns, collaborating with other schools, rewarding teachers, and creating an environment in which morale is high and ideas can flourish - I believe school managers will want to examine their own practices and consider ways in which they can keep their good teachers.'

School Standards Minister David Miliband said:

'The Government has worked closely with the TTA to recruit more high quality teachers. I am delighted that we have 25,000 more teachers since 1997 and 13,700 since January 2001.

'Rising staff numbers and rising quality are at the heart of an improving education system, but we must also provide incentives for good teachers to stay in schools. This guide provides useful and practical information for heads to keep good teachers and to continue to raise their standards.'

Notes for editors

The guide 'Keeping good teachers: Effective strategies in teacher retention' is published by the teacher training agency (TTA) and available free of charge from the TTA's publications centre (tel: 0845 6060 323, or ttapublications@iforcegroup.com). It was produced following discussions with head teachers, chief education officers and local education authority recruitment managers which highlighted the need for a guide setting out a framework for effective practice on retention, illustrated by practical examples from a range of schools.

Schools featured in the guide include:

• Ben Jonson Primary School, Tower Hamlets, London,
• Bishopsford Community School, Morden, Surrey,
• Christ Church School, Chelsea, London,
• Deansfield High School, Wolverhampton, and
• The Ridgeway School, Wroughton, Swindon, Wiltshire.

The guide also features HuntSNet, a network of 24 schools and one technical college in the Huntingdon area.

Provisional figures published on 29 April show that in January 2003 there were 423,900 full time equivalent teachers in England - 4,300 more than in January 2002, and a rise of 25,000 since 1997. The figures show the number of qualified teachers is the highest since January 1984. Government figures suggest that around 35,000 teachers left during the academic year 2000-01. The Government proposals for re-modelling the schools workforce were set out in time for standards, published in October 2002.

The teacher training agency  (TTA) was established under the Education Act 1994 and it purpose is to raise standards by attracting able and committed people to teaching and by improving the quality of teacher training and induction. Its corporate objectives include providing services which contribute to the recruitment and retention of teachers to schools. The TTA also provides funding for recruitment managers in 105 local education authorities. Their role includes developing strategies to recruit and retain teachers.

Media enquiries

TTA Press Office Tel: 020 7023 8080
Out of hours: 07771 934629
e-mail: pressoffice@teach-tta.gov.uk

General TTA enquiries

020 7925 3700

People interested in becoming a teacher should visit the TTA Website Teach, or contact the Teaching Information Line (Tel: 0845 600 0991).