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The data, which suggests that teaching is becoming a top career choice amongst high fliers, has been compiled by the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) using data from providers of teacher training in England.

A total of 36,898 trainees started an initial teacher training programme in the academic year 2008/09. Of the 29,284 postgraduate trainees:

• 60 per cent of secondary school trainees have a 2.1 or better degree, up from 57 per cent only last year and 50 per cent a decade ago; and
• 62 per cent (6,188) of primary school trainee teachers with a UK degree have a 2.1 or better degree – on par with 2007/08 but an increase of eight percentage points compared with a decade ago.

The calibre of degree holders applying for teacher training in subjects that are traditionally difficult to recruit to is also improving:

• 54 per cent of those training to teach science with a UK degree have a 2.1 or a first class degree – up three percentage points on the previous year. 87 per cent have a 2.2 or better, compared to 85 per cent in 2007/08; and
• 48 per cent of those training to teach maths with a UK degree have a 2.1 or a first class degree, on par with the previous year. 81 per cent have a 2.2 or better, an increase of two percentage points on the year before.

Furthermore, the vast majority of trainees get jobs quickly. An encouraging 88 per cent (21,692) of the 24,609 newly qualified teachers whose employment status is known were employed in teaching within six months of completing their training.

New data for 2008/09 from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) underlines the excellent employment prospects for teachers more generally. HESA found that 95.2 per cent of those who studied education for their first degree entered work or further study after graduation, second in a long list only to those studying medicine and dentistry.

The proportion of trainee teachers with at least a 2:2 degree has also increased:

• 91 per cent (15,077) of secondary school trainee teachers with a UK degree have 2:2 or better degree – up five percentage points since 1998/99; and
• 95 per cent (9,441)  of primary school trainee teachers with a UK degree have a 2:2 or better degree – a three percentage point rise since 1998/99.

Wendy Greaves has a first class degree in engineering from Leeds University and became Head of Maths at Kaskenmoor School in Oldham in just three years. She was made redundant eight years ago by British Aerospace. She believes that her experience in industry has been a real asset to developing her teaching skills and often uses real-life situations to demonstrate mathematical principles in the classroom.

Wendy said:

“Making the move into teaching was one of the best decisions of my life. I’ve progressed to be head of department in just three years and hope to rise further as I become more experienced. It’s not just the practical application of my subject that has helped me from my previous role; it’s also more general workplace skills, like communication and management techniques.”

Graham Holley, Chief Executive of the TDA said:

“The very best teachers are vital if we are to drive improvement in our schools, to compete with the best in the world, as the Government wishes.  All pupils – whatever their background – deserve the chance to succeed and indeed thrive, and this cannot be achieved without a consistently high quality teaching workforce.

“We need tens of thousands of new teachers with a passion for their subjects and with the right sort of inter-personal skills.  The high number of candidates with good degrees who choose teaching continues to grow, but the challenge ahead is to attract even more of the country’s brightest and best into the profession.”

Schools Minister Lord Hill said:
 
“It is good news that more high quality graduates are choosing to become teachers – especially in key subjects like sciences and maths. But I want to do even more to attract great teachers into the classroom. 
 
“By raising the prestige of teaching and improving teacher training and continuous professional development, I hope we can attract even more outstanding people into teaching. Teach First has also brought many highly qualified graduates into teaching and the Government has recently announced its intention to expand this successful programme."

Click here for further details and the full press release from the TDA.

A. Horsburgh 26.07.10