Shaping the future of teaching in England

Released: 20.10.26

Students training to become teachers at Plymouth Marjon University are learning at an institution helping to influence national conversations about the future of the profession.

Tanya Ovenden-Hope, Professor of Education at Plymouth Marjon University, has co-founded and co-chairs the new Teaching Supply Alliance (TSA), a national initiative bringing together leading education organisations to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing schools and colleges today: attracting, developing and retaining great teachers.

Launched at the Palace of Westminster, the Alliance has created a new evidence hub website that makes it easier for schools, researchers and policymakers to access the latest knowledge on teacher recruitment, retention and professional development.

The initiative comes at a time when schools across England continue to face teacher workforce challenges, making it increasingly important to understand what helps teachers thrive and build long-term careers in education.

Professor Ovenden-Hope said: “Every child deserves access to excellent teachers, and every teacher deserves the support they need to succeed. Through the Teaching Supply Alliance, we're bringing together the best available evidence to help education leaders make informed decisions about the future of the workforce.

"We are committed to ensuring teaching remains a rewarding, sustainable and impactful profession and we're proud to prepare the next generation of teachers who are entering a profession where they can make a real difference."

For more than 185 years, Marjon has been preparing teachers to transform lives through education. Today, that commitment extends beyond the classroom, with Marjon academics contributing research that shapes policy, informs practice and supports schools and communities across the country.

The University's teacher education programmes combine practical experience with research-informed learning, giving students the opportunity to learn from experts who are not only studying educational challenges but helping to address them.

As a leader of the Teaching Supply Alliance, Professor Ovenden-Hope is working with national partners from across the education sector to strengthen understanding of what supports teacher recruitment, development and retention, helping to secure the future of the profession for generations to come.

For students considering a career in teaching, it means studying at a university that is not only training tomorrow's teachers but helping shape tomorrow's education system.