This week, Dylan and Hayden dive into a topic that’s flying under the radar but changing the future of teaching forever.
UK birth rates have fallen to historic lows – and now schools are feeling the impact. From empty classrooms and school closures to teacher redundancies and disappearing job ads, this episode uncovers how a quiet demographic shift is creating a very loud crisis in education.
🔍 We unpack:
* The *huge* drop in UK birth rate – and why it’s happening
* Why schools across the country are merging, shrinking, or closing altogether
* How fewer children means fewer teaching jobs – even if you're brilliant
* Why a fall in teacher vacancies isn’t always a good sign
* Our personal story
Whether you're a classroom teacher, a school leader, or just education-curious, this is a must-listen on where the system might be heading next.
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📚 LINKS & SOURCES
* ONS 2024 Birth Rate Statistics: [www.ons.gov.uk](https://www.ons.gov.uk)
* BBC Report on School Closures: [bbc.co.uk/news/education](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education)
* NEU Press Release on Redundancies: [neu.org.uk](https://neu.org.uk)
* TES: “Why falling rolls could be the next big crisis” – [tes.com](https://www.tes.com/)
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💬 **Tell us your story!**
Have you seen your school shrink, merge, or quietly lose staff? Drop us a message on Instagram or TikTok – or send in an anonymous story for a future episode.
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