Teaching event proved a huge success (From Messenger Newspapers)

Teaching event proved a huge success

12:20pm Saturday 23rd February 2013 in News

NEW data from the Teaching Agency shows that the teaching profession is a popular career in Manchester.

Last week’s recruitment drive was hosted by the Teaching Agency at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) in Manchester, on Saturday and attracted 613 aspiring teachers.

Delegates that were considering a career change were currently working in a variety of professions, including finance, chemical engineering, and law; with 54 per cent of attendees having managerial experience.

The Manchester roadshow was designed to give the most able graduates in the North West the opportunity to interact with teachers and find out how to get into the profession.

Almost 70 per cent of those surveyed are now more likely to go into teaching, having attended the event; with just over 50 per cent of people stating that they will apply for a teaching qualification this year.

In fact, 92 per cent stated that they are now clear on what their next steps should be with regards to entering the teaching profession.

What’s more, 37 per cent considered information on School Direct one of the most useful features of the roadshow. School Direct is the new school-led teacher training route based in some of the country’s best schools and comes with a potential job offer at the school offering the training, or one of its partnership schools.

The new figures are published to inspire more high quality graduates in the North West to follow suit and consider a career in teaching.

Sonia Johnson, professional delivery lead for the Teaching Agency in Manchester said: “We are delighted with the North West’s response to our teacher recruitment drive.

“It has been heartening to witness such a strong demand from attendees to find out more about the application process, the benefits, career progression opportunities and also what day to day life in the classroom is really like.

“What’s more, it was encouraging to see that the event was attended by a substantial number of high quality graduates with a 2:1 or first degree considering primary or secondary teaching. Candidates who train to teach certain subjects such as maths, physics, chemistry, or a modern foreign language may be eligible for substantial tax-free bursaries of up to £20,000.”

For the best chance of starting teacher training in 2013/14 candidates are encouraged to apply for more than one training option.

Further information is available at: www.education.gov.uk/getintoteaching or by contacting the Teaching Line on: 0800 389 2500.