The General Teaching Council report you draw from itself suggests that many newly qualified teachers may have found jobs in independent schools or in sixth-form colleges. And there is no evidence to suggest that there is a surplus of NQTs.

The Training and Development Agency for Schools data from training providers shows that at least 81 per cent of those who qualified in 2005 were teaching just six months after their training.

Moreover, healthy competition for teaching places is extremely good from the schools’ or the parents’ point of view. Seven years ago, The TES was arguing that we had a teacher recruitment crisis. Now we have heads being able to pick and choose between high-quality candidates in many parts of the country.

Teachers looking for posts need to be flexible because there is a job for them somewhere. The GTC census was in March this year. The resignation date for serving teachers moving to new jobs from next September was May 31, so lots of advertisements for vacancies will be appearing in the coming weeks.

NQTs looking for jobs should persevere. If they keep trying and are prepared to be flexible over where they teach, they will find a job.

Graham Holley

Chief executive,

Training and Development Agency for Schools,

London