Topping the list of career attractions was job satisfaction. 65% of over a thousand people that were surveyed as part of this national study thought that a satisfying job was the most important factor when considering a career. This sentiment of getting more out of work was echoed by the second most popular career attraction, working in a subject you enjoy, which got 43% of the vote. It's a symptom of the times that job security came in as the third choice with 40% of respondents claiming that it was an important factor in assessing a career.

The research was commissioned to establish what British people look for in a career and their perceptions of what a career in teaching could offer. The results showed that the benefits most people looked for in a career were matched by what they thought teaching could offer. 62% of respondents felt that teaching would provide a high level of job satisfaction with over half suggesting that teaching would enable them to work with a subject they enjoy.

Job security was also important, with 47% of people viewing a teaching career as offering long-term employment. This was especially attractive to men and chief income earners who had children.

Where teaching really makes an impression is its ability to provide a career which puts something back into society. 61% felt that a key attraction in choosing a career in teaching is that it makes a difference to people's lives - this was an opinion especially shared by people who were already in work. Another key benefit that people expected of a teaching career was the profession's ability to provide a contribution to society. Nearly 45% of people regarded this a top five career benefit for teaching.

Commenting on the findings, Mary Doherty, The Teacher Training Agency's Director of Teacher Supply & Recruitment, said, 'This research shows that a career in teaching can offer exactly what people are looking for. Job satisfaction, working with a subject you enjoy and a diverse yet secure career are now paramount considerations for most employees. Teaching offers all of these benefits and now boasts improved pay and career structures, more classroom assistance, increased use of technology, and improved standards. Teaching today is a competitive, rewarding and purposeful profession.'

'People looking to start a career in teaching will be in good company. More than 29, 000 people are expected to start initial teacher training during this academic year, which represents a seven per cent rise on last year. On top of that the Government has just announced that we can make another 1, 900 undergraduate and post-graduate places available from next September onwards. This interest in teaching fits well with the results from this survey and reflects a growing desire for people to find more satisfaction in their work. As any teacher will tell you, there is little that can touch the satisfaction gained from helping hundreds of young people realise their ambitions.'

People interested in a teaching career should call the Teacher Information Line: 0845 6000 991 or visit the TTA website.

Graduates and career changers can now also use the internet to apply for teacher training courses and track the progress of their applications. The new service has been launched by the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR) and the Teacher Training Agency (TTA) to help streamline applications for entry to the 2002 Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE). The website for the new application system is GTTR.
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Notes to the Editor

1. The bold text highlights the survey response options.
2. Key results

   Top 5 factors or benefits	Percentage of respondents who are attracted to the benefit when seeking a job or career	Percentage of respondents who expected the benefit to be offered in a career in teaching
   Job satisfaction	65%	62%
   Making a difference to people's lives	19%	61%
   Working with a subject you enjoy	43%	54%
   Long term job security	40%	47%
   Contribution to society	9%	43%

3. BMRB were commissioned by the Teacher Training Agency to conduct research into general public's attitudes towards work and teaching in particular. A total of 1,046 interviews were carried out with adults aged 15-55 in Great Britain between 15th and 21st November 2001. Interviews were conducted at homes using a computer Assisted Personal Interviewing system as part of an omnibus survey. The sample was nationally representative and selected through random locale sampling.
4. The Teacher Training Agency was established under the Education Act 1994. Its purpose is to raise standards in schools by attracting able and committed people into teaching and by improving the quality of teacher training. The Agency is responsible for a wide range of initiatives to promote recruitment to the teaching profession; for funding Initial Teacher Training; for further development of the standards for award of Qualified Teacher Status; and working with the New Opportunities Fund for the provision of training in the use of ICT in subject teaching.
5. The number of people expected to start teacher training on Government-funded courses during the academic year 2001/2 is more than 29,000, the highest since 1994/5. In addition, more than 2,200 are training while working in schools on the Graduate Training Programme.

For further information contacts at the TTA Press Office are:-
Gordon Griffiths, Tel::020 7023 8081 or Andy Bate, Tel: 020 7023 8080
email: griffithsg@teach-tta.gov.uk , batea@teach-tta.gov.uk

Dan Davies/Claire Barry Financial Dynamics, Tel: 020 7 269 7293 / 7122
email: dan.davies@fd.com / claire.barry@fd.com