Schools in the UK are increasingly turning towards teachers from overseas in a bid to bridge the skills gap and to address the shortage in new applicants from Britain, it has been claimed. 

Last week, it was claimed in a report that the rising number of pupils needing somewhere to learn coupled with the falling number of British teachers was combining to create a 'perfect storm' in the education sector. 

And now, a letter, sent to a recruitment agency by a Department for Education official and seen by the Observer, has claimed that the shortfall has led to many headteachers looking to recruit from overseas and nations like Jamaica. It said that recruitment drives see as many as 50 overseas teachers hired at a time. 

The official also said that the department is now starting to build ties with other countries as it tries to encourage skilled applicants from overseas to put themselves forward for positions available in schools in the UK. 

On the Department for Education website, a blurb promises good starting salaries and working conditions. “Have you considered progressing your teaching career in England? As a talented, qualified teacher, you are in demand. Making the move to England is a great way to gain experience at the start of your career and build your résumé,” it said. 

Shadow education secretary Lucy Powell said of the tactic: “I don’t blame schools for looking abroad. For years, this government chose to ignore the growing problem with teacher supply, continuing instead to botch recruitment and do down the profession at every opportunity. 

“As a result, schools are now struggling against falling applications and the highest number of teachers quitting the profession on record. The Tories’ failure to take this problem seriously is threatening standards in our schools and damaging the education of our children – it cannot go on.”