Trainee teachers receive cash boost

The government has announced plans to increase the tax-free bursaries offered to trainee teachers, in order to safeguard recruitment to the profession in "shortage subjects".

Under the new plans, maths and science trainees will a £9,000 bursary, plus a £5,000 ‘Golden Hello’ after successfully completing their induction period. Trainees in other shortage subjects, which now include music and RE, will also receive a £9,000 bursary and a £2,500 Golden Hello.

Trainees in secondary non-shortage subjects and primary school teacher trainees will continue to receive the current £6,000 bursary.

The reforms, which will come into effect in September 2006, have been introduced following a Teacher Training Agency (TTA) review, requested by Education Secretary Ruth Kelly, to examine improving recruitment of maths, science and other shortage subject teachers, as well as the impact of variable fees on trcruitment to Initial Teacher Training courses.

The TTA welcomed the government’s decision to accept the review and its recommendations. Chief Executive, Ralph Tabberer said: “We have recruited 41,000 trainee teachers this year – the highest number for 30 years. Teaching has been voted the top career choice in a respected poll of final year students and enquiries from people who can begin training in September are running at more than 150 every day.

“But we need to be able to compete with other careers as we seek to persuade the best graduates, particularly in subjects such as mathematics, physics and chemistry, to use their heads and consider teaching.

“This package of financial incentives is a medium-term strategy to ensure teacher training remains attractive following the introduction of variable fees. It will target money where it will have the greatest impact on recruitment and ensure there is a good supply of the new teachers we need to help every child fulfil their potential.”

(KMcA/SP)