New Year career changers set sights on life in the classroom
Package of support in place for people tempted by teaching
With the nation poised to head back to work after the festive break, new figures released today show January continues to be a popular month for people looking to switch into teaching as a career.
Expressions of interest from career changers spiked in January 2017 with 12,489 registrants, according to figures from the Get Into Teaching campaign. With over half a million (520,093) users, January was also the month when most traffic was recorded on the Get Into Teaching website – where prospective candidates can find out more about teaching as a career and access support all the way through the application process. Analysis of these visitors supports the trend for New Year resolutions to be focused on career ambitions; the largest group came from people aged 25 to 34 and those already in full time employment.
One of those who has changed career for a life in the classroom is 30-year old Tom Ding. He says: “Before teaching I worked as a strategist in a variety of advertising and marketing companies. There was an intellectual challenge and a certain glamour to it, but after a while I realised that there wasn’t much to love beneath the glitter. I began to find it very difficult to motivate myself and I knew I had to do something else when the new year came. I did my research about teaching and went to observe lessons in different schools before signing up online to start my training. Now, as a teacher every day brings at least one moment to cherish. And that’s not something I could say about any job I’ve had before.”
For the first time since 2015, March last year was also a peak month for career changers contemplating teaching – with 12,516 people working in other fields registering their interest, out of a total pool of 19,751.
Get Into Teaching is offering a package of support to help bridge the gap between candidates considering teaching as one of their resolutions, and actually registering their interest and applying. This includes a series of events, opportunities to get some classroom experience and tailored advice from teaching experts to help people through the application process.
Roger Pope, spokesperson for the Get Into Teaching campaign and Chair of the National College for Teaching and Leadership, says:
“Many of us will be making resolutions for 2018 – in fact we know from YouGov data that 15% of us will make one of those goals related to a career ambition. We also know that people take time over the Christmas holidays to think about what their day job means to them, and what they might be more motivated to do. That’s where teaching comes into its own – whether you’re driven by the rational or emotional, teaching really is unique. Every day you have the chance to change someone’s life. It’s such a meaningful role where you can go home at the end of every day feeling proud of what you’ve achieved.
“We know some career changers take the plunge in January by deciding to take their skills into the classroom, whilst others might mull over on this important decision a little longer. It’s why we are running a series of events throughout the Spring term where people can find out about life in the classroom, the progression opportunities, competitive salaries and bursaries to help financially whilst you train. Anyone contemplating teaching should visit the Get Into Teaching website to find out more and register their interest.”
To support the latest generation of New Year career changers, a series of online and Train to Teach roadshow events are starting this month. January’s events include:
- Monday 8 January, 6.30pm – 7.30pm: Introduction to teacher training (online event)
- Saturday 13 January, 10am – 3pm: Train to Teach roadshow, London.
- Monday 15 January, 6.30 – 7.30: Change career to teaching (online event)
- Saturday 20 January, 10am-4pm: Train to Teach roadshow, Birmingham
- Tuesday 23 January, 4.30pm-8pm: Train to Teach roadshow, Crawley
- Wednesday 24 January, 4.30-8pm: Train to Teach roadshow, Exeter
- Wednesday 24 January, 12pm – 3.30pm: Train to Teach roadshow, Nottingham
- Thursday 25 January, 4.30pm – 8.30pm: Train to Teach roadshow, Sheffield
- Monday 29th January, 6.30 – 7.30: Gaining school experience (online event)
- Wednesday 31 January, 4.30pm – 8.30pm: Train to Teach roadshow, Peterborough
Career changers could get a £26,000 tax-free bursary to train as a teacher in key subjects including science, computing, geography and languages. This year candidates could get £30,000 to train to teach maths – a £20,000 tax-free bursary while training as a teacher and a further £10,000 after tax once in teaching. Alternatively, prestigious scholarships of up to £28,000 are available in priority subjects for graduates with a 2:1 or above who are passionate about their subject and have the potential to be teachers.
Applications to start teacher training in September 2018 are now open. For tailored advice and information about a career in teaching visit: https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk or call the Get Into Teaching line on 0800 389 2500.
To find out more about the series of online and face-to-face events, visit: https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/teaching-events