Keynote - International, national and local perspectives on teacher recruitment and retention

In England, government recruitment targets for new teachers have been missed in almost every year for the past fifteen years. This session will examine the most recent and relevant data and trends in teacher recruitment at local, national and international levels as well as outlining the ways in which schools and school leaders can play a pivotal role in addressing their own recruitment needs as well as working collaboratively and effectively across the region. The session will also offer a detailed exploration of the different factors involved in the retention of teachers at different stages of their career. It is sometimes suggested that the reasons why teachers leave teaching are outside of the control of individual schools, however there are many factors that have an impact of retention that are within the remit of school leaders to influence and this session will identify key areas for school leaders and governors to examine. Finally the session will consider the characteristics of different groups within the teaching workforce and consider how they can best be supported in order to remain within the profession.

Speaker

Patrick Garton is the founder and Director of Oxfordshire Wiltshire Berkshire Teacher Training, a leading provider of initial teacher training and professional development. With over 25 years of experience in education, Patrick has dedicated his career to improving the quality of teaching and learning. He has worked in various roles, including classroom teacher, mentor, and senior leader, and is known for his expertise in teacher recruitment, training, and retention. He is a trustee, trainer and writer for NASBTT (the National Association of School Based Teacher Trainers) and often contributes to national policy discussions. Under his leadership, the OTT SCITT has expanded its reach, offering innovative programmes that address the evolving needs of educators both locally and nationally. Passionate about supporting new and experienced teachers alike, Patrick is committed to fostering excellence in education through practical, research-based approaches.

Keynote - Missing Mothers: Are mother-teachers the solution to our recruitment and retention crisis?

Women aged 30-39 make up the largest group of teachers leaving the profession every year, and have done since 2017. In this session, we'll share the full extent of this shocking attrition data, and explain the impact of the "motherhood penalty" on teacher supply. We'll outline the findings of The Maternity Teacher Paternity Teacher (MTPT) Project and The New Britain Project's "Missing Mothers" report, and offer concrete retention solutions that could transform the health of the teacher workforce in Oxfordshire.

Speaker

Emma Sheppard is the Founder of The MTPT Project, the UK’s charity for parent-teachers. A former English teacher and Lead Practitioner, she is now an ICF ACC qualified coach, and runs The MTPT Project full time. Emma is the UK's expert on the motherhood penalty in education, and The MTPT Project's research has been cited in numerous texts and reports on teacher retention (EEF, 2023), teacher wellbeing (Edurio, 2024) and diversity and gender equality in education (Jones, 2023; Patience and Rose, 2022; Kara and Wilson, 2022; Featherstone and Porritt, 2020).

Keynote - Representation Matters: Paving the way for inclusivity in education

This keynote will underscore the critical importance of increasing ethnic minority representation in the education workforce. Despite the multicultural makeup of the UK, a stark disparity remains between the diversity of the student body and the predominantly white teaching staff. Barriers to recruitment and retention which perpetuate this underrepresentation, will be explored in depth. School leaders and governors will be urged to take action to foster equitable, inclusive environments, emphasising that true progress requires moving beyond diversity to achieve genuine inclusion. The session will be interactive, identifying key actions for participants to consider, ensuring they leave with actionable strategies to implement in their institutions.

Speaker

Isabel Mupita is a dynamic educator, researcher, mentor, coach, and advocate for equality, diversity, and inclusion. As an ethnic minority in teaching, she has navigated systemic barriers and is deeply committed to fostering authenticity and a positive work culture in education. Isabel is a leader and speaker dedicated to creating inclusive environments that extend far beyond her own school. With the completion of a Master’s degree focused on increasing ethnic minority representation in education, she blends research-driven insights with lived experience to spark meaningful change. For Isabel, education is a catalyst for societal change, and she is committed to empowering others to drive lasting, inclusive progress.

Recordings from the Recruitment, Retention & Representation Conference