Changes agreed by the Government include raising tax free bursaries from £6,000 to £9,000 for around 12,000 graduate trainees in priority subjects. Including Golden Hello payments, the total package for mathematics and science trainees rises to £14,000.

The reforms, which take effect from September 2006, arise from a TTA review requested by Education Secretary Ruth Kelly in the light of changes in higher education funding, incentives in competing careers, and current and future teacher recruitment needs.

The revised incentives for graduates will be:

• Maths and science trainees: £9,000 bursary plus a £5,000 Golden Hello after successfully completing their induction period;
• Other shortage subjects, now extended to include music and RE: £9,000 bursary plus £2,500 Golden Hello;
• Secondary non-shortage subjects and primary trainees will continue to receive a £6000 bursary only.

Welcoming the Government decision to accept the TTA’s report and 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.”

The TTA’s review of financial incentives for recruitment to teacher training and teaching included research among teachers and potential teachers and discussions with trainers, trades unions and professional bodies.

Trainees on the Graduate Teacher Programme receive a salary rather than the incentives, and undergraduate trainees are entitled to the same financial support as other university students. Ministers agreed the means-tested Secondary Subject Shortage Scheme should be discontinued and the saving put towards the cost of the incentives.

The changes are announced today to assist potential trainees and training organisations in preparing for the academic year 2006-07.

Notes to Editors:
This announcement applies to initial teacher training in England only.

The full report is published at www.tta.gov.uk/incentivesreview

The review was requested by Secretary of State in a letter to the TTA dated 20 December 2004. The review focused on: improving recruitment of maths and science teachers; improving recruitment of shortage subject secondary teachers; the impact of variable fees on recruitment to ITT courses; and achieving best value for money from available resources.

The revised bursaries will be available to eligible candidates starting on accredited postgraduate Initial Teacher Training (ITT) courses at universities, colleges and schools (SCITTS) during the academic year beginning September 2006. Golden Hellos are paid to eligible candidates after successfully completing their induction (three terms).

Currently, eligible trainees on postgraduate initial teacher training courses in England are entitled to a tax-free training bursary worth £6,000 (£7,000 for mathematics and science from September 2005). Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) in 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 Golden Hello for maths and science teachers is £5,000.

The TTA will announce transitional arrangements for trainees claiming hardship grants under the Secondary Shortage Subject Scheme. The TTA’s report concluded the scheme was expensive to administer, and it would be more effective to re-deploy the cost elsewhere.

The UK Graduate Careers Survey, conducted among 16,113 final year students at 30 universities in the UK and Ireland, showed teaching, media and marketing as the top three destinations. The report is published by High Fliers Research Ltd.

Figures for the year 2004-05 show 2.1 applications for every primary training place allocated, 1.3 for maths and science and 1.2 for other shortage subjects.

The Department for Education and Skills has indicated that, because of recent increases in recruitment and falling school rolls, the number of teacher training places needed is likely to fall from 19,500 secondary and 16,300 primary in 2004-05, to 17,300 secondary and 15,400 primary in 2007-08. The figures are subject to revision and confirmation.