Press release
million+ responds to government announcement by Schools Minister proposing to increase bursaries for trainee teachers
26 Sep 2014
The university think tank million+ responds to the announcement by David Laws, Schools Minister that graduates training as teachers in understaffed areas could receive tax-free bursaries and scholarships worth £25,000 - on condition they start training in 2015.
Pam Tatlow, Chief Executive of the university think-tank million+, said:
“Increasing bursaries to attract graduates in shortage subjects into teaching is not a quick fix and is unlikely to have any significant impact long-term since there is no guarantee that those benefiting will stay in the profession.
“The recruitment of trainee teachers particularly in the shortage subjects will become even more challenging as the economy recovers. Unfortunately, the subject knowledge enhancement courses which universities offered potential trainees in these subjects have been undermined and the Department for Education has been slow to work with universities on more innovative programmes to attract graduates into teaching.
“Candidates are now confused by the multitude of routes into teacher training promoted by Michael Gove and the assertions of Ministers that teachers no longer need to have a professional qualification.
“The national teacher supply model is creaking at the seams and Ministers must use the 2015/16 allocation of training places to stabilise the system and increase core allocations to universities.
“Universities work very effectively with schools not only on training teachers but also on programmes to support improvement and they remain the bedrock of teacher supply. David Laws needs to demonstrate that he understands this by doing all that he can to avoid a teacher shortage in the future.“
ENDS
Notes to Editors
1. For further information or to arrange an interview, contact Rochelle Owusu- Antwi, Press and Communications Officer, million+ on 020 7717 1658 / 07527 336 795 or email press@millionplus.ac.uk.
2. million+ is a leading university think-tank. More information can be found at www.millionplus.ac.uk.
3. The announcement itself and further information can be found here on the Gov.UK website