Impacts from subject bursary cuts – geography recruitment down

The government’s withdrawal of key financial incentives for teacher training has caused concerns with some subjects already recording a drop in applications.

TES have released an article on the impact of bursary cuts. Eight subjects had their bursaries cut in October 2025 and four months on application numbers have reduced in half of those subjects. Geography recruitment was one of the hardest subjects hit with -18% change in applications from January 2026 compared to the previous cycle.

Graph © TES. Source ITT application reports, DfE. Created with Datawrapper

Speaking to TES Steve Brace, chief executive of the Geographical Association, says lower application numbers are directly linked to the loss of bursaries.

‘[The cut] has really hit geography hard. It’s the only change we can link the lower application numbers to’, he tells Tes.

Read the full Tes article here: https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/impact-of-cuts-teacher-training-bursaries