By Alan Smithers and Pamela Robinson

Centre for Educational and Employment Research
Department of Education
University of Liverpool

There is a paradox in teacher supply. Over the years there have been continuing and severe shortfalls in recruitment to teacher training, yet the official figures show that the schools themselves are apparently fully staffed. On the one hand, we thus appear to have a recruitment crisis and, on the other, schools seemingly able to fill the posts that become vacant. How can this be? Coping with Teacher Shortages, and its companion volume, Talking Heads, report an investigation of how headteachers are apparently managing to square the circle.