Could you be one of the 6,500? Join the next wave of inspiring UK teachers

The government has just prioritised your potential as a future educator. If you are interested in teaching, they are now seeking 6,500 new teachers to join exceptional educational institutions nationwide. Could you be one of them? Read on to discover why there is such a significant push to recruit teachers and how you can train for one of these vital roles.

Why is there such a high demand for teachers?

Teacher recruitment and retention in the UK have been a challenge for over a decade and teaching remains one of the most sought-after professions, not just in the UK but globally. Several factors contribute to this situation:

Firstly, natural retirements among experienced teachers are creating gaps in the workforce, along with other factors for those leaving the profession. Additionally, stagnating pay, coupled with a demanding workload has adversely affected teacher retention, costing the UK more than £1 billion annually. In response, the government has stepped in with a solution: the current administration is committed to hiring over 6,000 new teachers and has already approved pay raises, alongside new funding and training support.

As stated on the Department for Education (DfE) website, “School teachers and leaders will receive a fully funded 5.5% pay award, reflecting the vital contribution they make to children’s life chances. Schools will receive almost £1.2 billion in additional funding to cover these costs, fully funding the pay award for teachers and support staff in the financial year 2024 to 2025 at a national level.”

This means that with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), you can expect a minimum starting salary of £31,650 (or more in London) as a primary or secondary school teacher in England. Your salary will be reviewed annually, with most teachers moving up the pay scale each year. And, after five years, you could earn at least £43,607 (or more in London). That equates to nearly £7,000 above the average entry-level salary in the UK, and over £6,000 higher than the national average salary after five years.

Make your passion a career?

Are you a good communicator, empathic, creative, organised and enthusiastic? If so, you already have the core attributes needed for a successful teaching career. With these fundamentals, it’s easy to build your teaching skills at university and in school placements.

Not sure where to study? The University of Bolton stands out as an excellent place to pursue your teaching studies, recognised for its high teaching quality and boasting a remarkable 100% employability rate where 90% of our graduates enter teaching, while the remaining 10% find roles in educationally-related fields. As someone developing their skills in the profession, you will receive the training needed to secure a role that genuinely makes a difference in people’s lives.

Our teacher training programmes

Unsure which course is right for you? To become an exceptional teacher, you need both passion and hands-on training in diverse environments to effectively educate students with varying needs and abilities. At Bolton, we offer four subjects within our PGCE Secondary (11-18 years) including English, Maths, Computing and Modern Foreign Languages, with plans to introduce additional subjects.

You will be paired with a subject-specialist mentor and learn from expert university tutors dedicated to research-informed practices. After 120 days of school experience and 20 intensive training and practice days—aligned with the Department for Education’s standards- will equip you to complete your PGCE and achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

The University of Bolton also offers specific programmes for teacher training aimed at those interested in working in colleges, training centres, community organisations, prison education and more. Our PGCE Further Education Skills 14+ and Cert Ed Certificate of Education 14+ courses are designed for newcomers to teaching, with no prior experience required. All programmes feature a welcoming learning environment, small class sizes and excellent facilities. So, no matter which path you choose, there’s a place for you at Bolton.

Click here to apply for one of these programmes and join one of the largest providers of professional development for teachers and trainers in the North West of England. Experience #UniAsItShouldBe from day one!