According to research by the Teacher Training Agency (TTA), almost a third (30 per cent) of new secondary school teachers who changed their career, held a management or senior position in their previous job, with a further 22 per cent holding down a middle rank professional role.

Many of these successful career changers left their senior position to take heed of the TTA’s call for more maths, science and modern language teachers, with the opportunity to interact with young people proving attractive to Britain’s bankers, accountants, pharmacists and sales executives.

Nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of new maths teachers who worked in a different profession were in either banking or accountancy before they decided to go back to the classroom. One in six science teachers (16 per cent) were scientists or pharmacists in their former career life and 15 per cent of language teachers worked in sales before opting to use their communication skills to motivate young minds.

Those who have made the switch seem to have few regrets. Eighty nine per cent of newly qualified teachers who changed their career said they enjoyed the stimulation of working with young people, 78 per cent liked the intellectual challenge and 70 per cent relished being able to use their degree knowledge. More than a quarter (28 per cent) of these career changers also described the pay and benefits package as good.

Mike Watkins, Acting Director of Teacher Supply and Recruitment for the TTA said:
“Many people are choosing teaching as a second career because it offers a whole range of new experiences compared with their previous profession. Classrooms are very creative places and interacting with young people on a daily basis means that the job is constantly stimulating and intellectually challenging.

“More than a third of people entering teacher training are over 30 years old with many having worked in another field before becoming teachers. The knowledge and expertise these professionals have developed in their previous career is often extremely valuable to the teaching profession, especially those with a mathematics, science and modern languages background – subjects where we particularly require additional teachers. Graduate professionals thinking about a career change are invited to find out more about the profession by visiting our Training to Teach in London Event on 4-5 February.”

The Training to Teach in London Event, the capital’s largest free teaching careers fair, takes place at the County Hall Gallery and is held in association with The Guardian. Consultants and current teachers will be on hand to offer personal advice and information about the profession.  All the Londonproviders of initial teacher training will be present to give specific detail about their institutions and how to apply to train this September. Graduates interested in more information or to pre-register for the event should visit the TTA website or call the Teaching Information Line on 0845 6000 991(minicom: 01245 454343).

This news release is issued on behalf of the Teacher Training Agency.

Notes for Editors

The research was carried out by PCP data (November 2004) and is based on a sample of 571 newly qualified secondary school teachers who worked in a different industry before becoming teachers.

A newly qualified teacher (NQT) can expect to start on a salary of at least £18,558 (£22,059 in inner London). The pay scale for good, experienced classroom teachers who have 'crossed the threshold' rises to £29,385 outside Londonand £34,851 in inner London. Additional allowances may be paid to teachers considered to be excellent, and to those who take on management and other responsibilities. The pay scale for headteachers can rise to over £90,000 depending on size of school.

Eligible trainees on postgraduate initial teacher training courses in England are entitled to a tax-free training bursary worth £6,000 (from September 2005 the amount is £7,000 for maths and science trainees)

Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) with a PGCE in a priority subject (mathematics, science, modern languages, English or drama, design and technology, and Information and Communications Technology) may also be eligible for a "golden hello" payment worth £4,000 (taxable) after successfully completing their induction period. (From September 2005, the payment is £5,000 for maths and science teachers.)  Details are available on the TTA website at: ../php/read.php?sectionid=146&articleid=938

Applications for most postgraduate initial teacher training courses are processed through the Graduate Teacher Training Registry and can be submitted online at their website. Applications for undergraduate teacher training courses can be made via the University and Colleges Admissions Service's website.

The Teacher Training Agency was established under the Education Act 1994. Its purpose is to raise standards by attracting able and committed people to teaching, and by improving the quality of training for teachers and the wider school workforce.