More than half of the schools in the UK that have posted job adverts for new teachers are struggling to find the right number of applicants to be able to hire the right person, a new study has revealed. 

According to The National Association of Head Teachers, the problem has affected 59 per cent of schools looking for new teachers in the last year, with many seeing just a few applications to choose from when they post a new job ad. 

In addition to struggling to find applicants, it was also discovered that as many as 20 per cent of those schools looking to recruit have failed completely in terms of making an appointment. 

Russell Hobby, leader of the National Association of Head Teachers, said this was clear evidence that there is a crisis when it comes to hiring in the education sector across the country. 

"As well as concern about the number of teachers, our research has shown that schools are struggling to recruit people with the right kind of skills," said Mr Hobby.

He went on to say that some of the main problems in attracting teachers with the right skills include the fact that they face pressure in the classroom and feel that they are often open to heavy criticism. 

However, while the association was looking at the negative side of teacher recruitment, the government has taken a more positive slant on things. The Department for Education said that as of this year, the number of teachers in classrooms nationwide is at an all-time high. 

A Department for Education spokesman said: "The number and quality of teachers in our classrooms is at an all-time high. 

"We have over 1,000 more graduates training in secondary subjects - and record levels of trainees holding a first-class degree.