The new recruitment pack for 2003, published this week, recognises the many and varied routes into teaching and gives vivid examples of the diverse range of people working in the profession. It now comprises three documents, tailored to meet different needs and explain how teacher training can fit different lifestyles:

• … An exciting and modern career
  This publication provides an overview of teaching today through the personal views of a variety of teachers on what they really think about the profession, and carries information on what is required to become a teacher. Find out how to train to gain qualified teacher status (QTS) and then complete an induction period, which provides newly qualified teachers with the opportunity to build their confidence and skills further.
  
  
• Enjoy a rewarding career in teaching
  You may be surprised at the career opportunities and financial benefits available in teaching. There are a range of financial rewards available from a teaching career, including starting salaries from £17,500 (£20,700 in inner London) which can increase to over £85,000 for some headteachers. Various career routes like advanced skills teachers and management roles attract additional payments.
  
  In some subjects 'golden hellos' of £4,000 are payable and you could also be eligible to have your student loans paid off. Other benefits include holidays, pensions and additional allowances. Those in the South East of England may be eligible for support in buying their own homes under the key workers initiative, and those working in London receive London weighting payments.
  
  
• Finding a route into teaching that is right for you
  There are now a variety of different ways to train to be a teacher including undergraduate, postgraduate flexible training courses to fit with lifestyle and extended employment base routes to train while you teach.
  
  This practical guide gives advice on finding the best routes to gaining QTS to suit individual circumstances. You'll find help on how to apply for teacher training and details of the financial support available whilst training.

Each of the above publications include additional contact names, numbers and web addresses for further information on training and the profession.

TTA Director of teacher supply and recruitment, Mary Doherty, said:

'Our new recruitment pack gives a fresh view of modern teaching and for many will contain a number of pleasant surprises. Teaching is a rewarding career offering excellent opportunities to progress, and with financial incentives in place, such as training bursaries, 'golden hellos' and the repayment of teachers' loans scheme, increasing numbers of able and committed people are now applying, seeing teaching as more attractive than ever. We've set ourselves a tough challenge to recruit 35,000 people to train to teach in 2003. These materials will help people from all walks of life see that there is a route in for them.'

Information on teaching including the financial incentives available such as training salaries, 'golden hellos' or the repayment of teachers' loans in certain subjects, should visit the TTA website.

If you are interested in entering teaching and would like to receive a free copy of the TTA's recruitment pack, or wish to discuss the various options for undertaking teacher training, please call the Teaching Information Line on 0845 6000 991.

For general information about the TTA contact the Press Office:
Tel: 0207 023 8080 email: pressoffice@teach-tta.gov.uk.

Notes to editors

1. Trainee teachers undertaking an accredited initial teacher training  course in England and Wales leading to a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) may be eligible for a bursary worth £6,000.
2. Graduate teachers in inner London start on salaries of £20,700 and for those living outside London it is £17,595. A good, experienced classroom teacher can earn up to £32,217; a teacher in a senior leadership role up to £46,422; an advanced skills teacher up to £47,604; and a headteacher up to £85,704 (all £3,105 extra if teaching in inner London).
3. Training bursaries
   Eligible postgraduate teacher trainees in England, who are resident in the UK and begin their training on an eligible course, receive a £6,000 training bursary - the equivalent of £150 a week while you're training.
4. Golden hellos
   An additional £4,000 is available for eligible postgraduates teaching english, drama, mathematics, science, modern foreign languages, design and technology or ICT in England. You can claim this when you have successfully completed your induction and embark on your second year of teaching in a maintained school, provided this is within five years of the start of the first academic year after qualifying.
5. Repayment of teachers' loans
   Details of the Repayment of Teachers' Loans (RTL) Scheme are set out on the Department for Education and Skills website teachernet, at http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/teachersloans. The scheme will operate initially as a pilot in the academic years 2002/3, 2003/4 and 2004/5. New teachers will be able to have their student loans paid off over ten years for full-time teachers with income contingent loans, or around five to seven years for those with mortgage style loans.
   
   The full amount of outstanding loans will be repaid if the teacher works full-time and remains in an eligible post in line with the requirements of the scheme. For those who have studied in London for four years, the Government believes this could mean a saving of up to £13,000. For those who studied outside London, the benefit could be up to £10,500. Part-time teachers will receive pro-rata benefit. The scheme will cover supply teachers if they have a fixed term contract of at least eight weeks with a school, college or local education authority.

 

Information about how to become a teacher is available from the TTA website. Personal advice is available from the Teaching Information Line (tel: 0845 6000 991). Applications for teacher training places can be made on-line through the graduate teacher training registry (GTTR).

The teacher training agency (TTA) 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 in England.