What is a temporarily filled post?
In short
A temporarily filled post is a teaching post that has no permanent postholder but is currently being covered – so it is not standing empty, and it does not appear in the advertised-vacancy count. DfE publishes the two measures separately, and they need reading together.Vacancy, temporarily filled, or neither
| What it means | |
|---|---|
| Vacancy | A post being advertised on the census date |
| Temporarily filled | No permanent postholder, but currently covered |
| Permanent post | Filled by a permanent member of staff |
A supply placement is one way a post gets temporarily filled, but the two are not the same thing: the placement is the arrangement, the temporarily filled post is the status of the post.
Why reading only vacancies is misleading
If a school covers a gap rather than advertising it, the vacancy count falls while the underlying gap remains. This shows up clearly in the geography: London has among the lowest advertised vacancy rates in England alongside the highest temporary-filling rates. Read on its own, the vacancy figure would suggest London finds recruitment easiest.
Neither measure is a shortage measure. Vacancies, temporarily filled posts, recruitment against target and specialist teaching each describe something different. A single one cannot establish whether there is a shortage.