Teaching in the UK: Which Subjects Are Still in Highest Demand?

Teaching can still be a strong career choice, but demand is not spread evenly across every subject. Some specialisms remain much harder for schools to recruit for than others, which means better opportunities for candidates with the right background.

In practice, the clearest official signals currently come from England, where government incentives and teacher training funding continue to focus on the same shortage areas. That gives jobseekers a useful clue about which subjects are still most in demand.

Which subjects are still in highest demand?

The strongest shortage signals continue to centre on chemistry, computing, maths and physics. These are the subjects currently linked to targeted retention incentive payments for eligible early-career teachers in state-funded secondary schools in England.

That does not automatically mean every school is short of staff in exactly the same way. But when the government keeps directing retention payments at the same group of subjects, it is a strong sign that recruitment and retention remain difficult in those areas.

What are the main signs that a subject is in shortage?

There are a few practical clues worth watching.

• Retention incentives: eligible teachers of chemistry, computing, maths and physics can receive targeted retention incentive payments worth between £3,000 and £6,000 for the 2025 to 2026 academic year in eligible state-funded secondary schools in England.
• Training bursaries and scholarships: for the 2026 to 2027 training year, chemistry, computing and physics offer some of the strongest funding packages, with maths also remaining highly supported.
• Government recruitment focus: recent teacher workforce planning continues to highlight shortage subjects as a priority area for recruitment and retention.

Put simply, if a subject keeps appearing in financial support schemes, it is usually because schools are still finding it difficult to fill those roles.

What about other subjects?

Shortage does not mean only four subjects matter. Other specialisms can still offer strong prospects, especially depending on region, school type and local recruitment pressures.

For example, design and technology and languages continue to attract meaningful bursary support for teacher training. Biology and geography also remain funded, although at a lower level. That suggests demand is still there, but usually not at the same pressure level as the main STEM shortage subjects.

Does this mean non-shortage subjects have no opportunities?

Not at all. Schools still recruit across the full curriculum, and vacancies can appear for many reasons: staff turnover, maternity cover, growing pupil numbers, school expansion or local shortages.

However, candidates in the main shortage subjects often have a wider choice of roles and may find schools more flexible on start dates, support and progression.

Why this matters for jobseekers

If you already teach one of the high-demand subjects, your position in the market may be stronger than you think. If you are considering teacher training, subject demand can also affect the financial support available to you and the number of opportunities open after qualification.

It is also worth remembering that recruitment patterns are not identical across the whole of the UK. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each run parts of the system differently, so candidates should always check the latest local guidance and job market conditions.

Summary

In 2026, the clearest high-demand teaching subjects remain chemistry, computing, maths and physics, particularly in England where government incentives continue to target these areas. Design and technology and languages also remain important, while opportunities still exist across many other subjects depending on location and school needs.

If you are looking for your next role in education, browse the latest teaching jobs on Jober.uk and compare opportunities across schools and regions.