The statistics suggests a shortage of design and technology teachers

Research by Education Data Surveys says there were 30,000 adverts for school teaching posts over the past year.

Its analysis suggests a mismatch with the supply from training institutions, there being too few teachers of drama, English, physics, chemistry and design.

But the Department for Education and Skills dismissed the findings, saying the supply of trainees met demand.

There was also a surplus of newly qualified teachers in religious education and citizenship, the statistics indicated.

Meeting targets

Professor John Howson, a director of Education Data Surveys, said: "There are still nowhere near enough mathematics, physics and chemistry teachers, but the government should not compensate by training too many teachers in other subjects.

"If the targets set by the Treasury in 2004 for innovation in the economy are to be met, the DfES must increase the supply of mathematics and science teachers, otherwise some pupils will still be deprived of the 'world-class education' they were promised by the government."

Prof Howson said it was "incomprehensible" that the government and the Training and Development Agency, which has responsibility for training teachers, knew "so little" about the job market for new teachers.

"With the introduction of top-up fees this autumn, it may be time to overhaul the whole system for deciding how many teachers to train each year," he said.

'Opposite picture'

The DfES said the truth was "quite the opposite to the picture painted by Prof John Howson".

"The TDA and DfES work together to very carefully monitor supply and demand for teachers in specific subject areas to ensure that the correct incentives and recruitment efforts are made to fill places," said a spokesman.

"Teacher vacancies, even in subjects traditionally considered as shortage subjects, have been slashed in recent years."

There had been a 30% increase in the number of new science teachers since 1997, for example, resulting in the vacancy rate dropping from 1.6% to 0.9%.