Government cuts biology teacher training bursaries by 80%: RSB raises concerns
Date: 8 Oct 2025
The Department for Education (DfE) has announced that bursaries for those training to teach biology will be cut from £26,000 to £5,000 from the 2026/27 academic year. The Royal Society of Biology (RSB) warns that this drastic reduction could destabilise the recruitment pipeline for biology teachers, just as the subject had exceeded recruitment targets for the first time in several years.
In the 2024/25 Initial Teacher Training (ITT) census, biology recruitment reached 119% of target, with 1,336 new entrants. However, even a modest fall in applicants following the bursary cut could bring numbers below target, leading to shortages in the near future.
Shabana Brightley, RSB Senior Education Policy Officer, said: “Biology is a cornerstone of STEM education, underpinning the UK’s strengths in the life sciences, health, and environmental sectors. Reducing bursaries so dramatically risks reversing recent progress, undermining recruitment quality, and deterring talented graduates from diverse backgrounds.”
In its 2024 manifesto, the RSB called for a £20,000 bursary for biology teacher trainees, alongside stronger subject-specific training and retention incentives. The Society will continue to advocate for sustainable investment to ensure every young person is taught biology by a subject specialist.
Read more about the RSB’s education priorities.