Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 19
19
Acknowledged
Rethink decision to cut Now Teach funding and introduce specific bursaries for career changers.
Recommendation
The Department should urgently rethink the decision to cut funding for Now Teach as career changers are an important group that have the potential to positively contribute towards improving secondary teacher numbers. Further, the Department should introduce more paid routes into teaching and a bursary specifically for those making a career change. The value of this bursary should be determined on a multi- year basis to help improve the stability of these routes, benefiting both applicants and Initial Teacher Education providers. (Paragraph 89) 78 Teacher recruitment, training and retention
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the value of career changers but has no plans to reintroduce funding for Now Teach, although it will keep the matter under review; they will continue to promote salaried routes into teaching.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
We recognise that career changers can bring a wealth of valuable experience into teaching and support diversity in the workforce. Career changers are eligible for the same bursaries and scholarships as other graduates. The Department does not currently have any plans to reintroduce funding for Now Teach but will keep the matter under review. The Department recognises the benefits of offering paid routes into teaching. There are currently a range of salaried routes into teaching which do not require trainees to pay tuition fees. These include school- centred initial teacher training (SCITT), Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeships and some university-led postgraduate courses. The Department will continue to promote these routes as a means of removing financial barriers to teaching and attracting high-quality candidates from all backgrounds.