Liverpool John Moores University, University of Hull and Portsmouth University have launched new courses where language graduates can learn French or German as a second foreign language, enabling them to teach languages to pupils up to the age of 14. The intensive 14 week full-time courses run from May 2005 and include highly supported expert tuition and a two-week structured study visit to a France or Germany with travel and expenses paid.  The courses are free and there are places for twenty students on each. Participants are also supported financially with a £150 bursary for the course duration.

On completion, graduates will undertake initial teacher training on a year-long secondary modern languages course leading to the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and will receive a golden hello of £4,000 (taxable) once in a teaching post.

Pupils today supported the call for more graduates to get into teaching. Youngsters from Archbishop Blanch School in Liverpool, Malet Lambert College in Hull and City of Portsmouth Girls School, gave a thumbs up to the cause, showing French and German flags.

With nearly a third (28 per cent) of the nation’s modern language graduates bored in their current jobs and over two thirds (68 per cent) frustrated at being unable to use the language skills they obtained at university, the TTA is calling on graduates and career changers to consider becoming modern language teachers.

Mike Watkins, Director of Teacher Supply and Recruitment for the TTA says: “We need more modern language teachers and language extension courses are a great way for graduates who want to go into teaching to learn the required second language. Teaching offers good pay and benefits and helping children to master a foreign language is hugely rewarding. Places are still available for the German and French extension courses but we are advising people to apply now as they are filling up fast.”

The TTA is hosting a series of live online discussions to support graduates in making a teacher training application. These sessions will be fully interactive and provide people with the opportunity to ask specialist advisers questions relating to a number of scheduled topics.  There will be an online event held on Wednesday 25th May from 6.30pm to 8.00pm for graduates that are interested in teaching modern languages.  To request an event reminder, go to http://www.teach.gov.uk/onlineevents or log on during the day to participate.

Graduates interested in further information on teacher training should call the Teaching Information Line on 0845 6000 991 (-992 for Welsh speakers) or the TTA website.

To find out more about the courses or to apply, please contact:

Margaret Whitehead at Liverpool John Moores University on 0151 231 3836 or blwswood@livjm.ac.uk

Tanya Riordan at the University of Portsmouth on 02392 845 227 or Tanya.riordan@port.ac.uk

Kim Bower at the University of Hull on 01482 465 406/987 or j.cuthbertson@hull.ac.uk

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

Media enquiries

Rachael Shaw at Band & Brown Communications.

Tel: 020 7419 7335, email Rachael@bbpr.com

General TTA enquiries

0870 496 0123

Notes for Editors

This news release applies to England only.

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 London and £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 head teachers can rise to over £90,000 depending on size of school.

The government proposes that science and maths Advanced Skills Teachers (ASTs) will be paid a minimum of £40,000 outside London and £45,000 in London.

Eligible trainees on postgraduate initial teacher training courses in England are entitled to a tax-free training bursary worth £6-7,000.

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) also may be eligible for a 'golden hello' payment worth £4-5,000 after successfully completing their induction period. Details are available on the TTA website at www.tta.gov.uk/funding

Data collected by TTA shows that over 41,000 people will begin teacher training this academic year (2004/5), the highest number since 1975.

For more information about how to become a teacher, see the TTA website. Personal advice is available from the Teaching Information Line on 0845 6000 991 – 992 for Welsh speakers (minicom 01245 45 43 43).

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 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service.

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.