Aspiring teachers with the passion and potential to teach are being encouraged to attend one of the Train to Teach roadshow events now underway.
The Train to Teach roadshow will visit London on 7th November and go onto visit Ipswich, York, Manchester, Sunderland, Birmingham, and Oxford throughout the rest of the month.
The roadshow, organised by the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL), is the most comprehensive event of its kind for those wanting to teach. Each free event will give potential teachers a chance to drop-in and find out more about the rewards and opportunities a career in teaching offers.
Visitors to the event will be able to attend a presentation on the different teacher training options available, including the School Direct salaried route. They will also be able to meet representatives from schools and universities that deliver teacher training, gain useful tips on how to make a strong application, and get one-to-one advice and practical tips from current teachers and teaching experts.
The event will also showcase the financial support available and provide information on the competitive starting salaries, as well as the rewards that teaching has to offer. These include substantial tax-free bursaries and scholarships of up to £30k for top graduates who train to teach core academic subjects.
Colin Hegarty, 33, maths teacher at Preston Manor School, London, Pearson Teaching award winner and founder of Hegarty Maths, says:
“I had worked in the City for six years, with Deloitte, when I realised I wanted to switch into teaching. The company had partnered with a local school to offer a reading programme for disadvantaged children. I absolutely loved being involved and realised I wanted to teach maths. A few months later I’d left my job and was embarking on a PGCE.
“I believe that great teaching, particularly in maths, can change young people’s lives – as it did for me. I grew up in a council house and was the first person in my family to go to university, gaining a first class maths degree from Oxford University.
“Teaching offers so much opportunity and if you are prepared for hard work, it is a great career. You get back what you put in - so long as you are willing to give, the rewards will be constant.
“If you are thinking about a career in teaching, I would recommend attending a Train to Teach event. A couple of hours at the event is all you need to find out more about the profession and the training required.”
Kim Mitchell, a Teaching and Leadership Adviser for NCTL, said:
“Teaching is a fantastic career - it offers a competitive salary, flexibility and great opportunities for people seeking career progression. With the bursaries and scholarships on offer this year, more talented graduates will have the opportunity and support to become teachers and help young people reach their full potential.
“As well as new graduates, some of our best teachers are career changers who entered the profession after pursuing careers in other fields, bringing with them a wealth of experience and expertise to help inspire the next generation of CEOs, doctors and engineers.
“The roadshow is a great opportunity to get all your questions about teaching and the teacher training answered.”
To attend a Train to Teach event, registration in advance is advised by going to: https://traintoteach.education.gov.uk/sign-up You can also register at the venue on the day.
There is also a range of live online interactive events with teachers and experts for aspiring teachers throughout October and November, covering a host of topics, including teaching a STEM subject, teaching for career changers and more. To find out more about these live, interactive events, and to sign up, go to: https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/teaching-events/listing?return=true
Applications for teacher training in 2016 open at the end of October and popular courses fill up fast.
Anyone interested in becoming a teacher should visit: www.education.gov.uk/getintoteaching or contact the Get into Teaching Line on: 0800 389 2500.
