October Teaching Careers Workshops

Now is the time to start thinking about Teacher Training applications especially for Primary PGCE courses - and Secondary as well if you are thinking of applying for in-demand subjects like PE.  The deadline for Primary applications is 1st December.

With this in mind, Careers Adviser Joanne Watson will be delivering two sessions at Brampton Road campus this month for those who are or may be interested in teacher training.

You can find more details, dates and times on the University website

Forthcoming Shortage of Primary Teachers?

Student Teachers at University of Cumbria

Last Friday's 'Independent' reported research by Pearson Education which indicated that, while applications for primary teacher training places have dropped by 17%, primary school and nursery roles are set to rise by 8% over the next three years, leading to speculation of future shortages of qualified teachers.

Researchers also found that 55% of Primary Headteachers reported a decline in staff morale and had found it more difficult to recruit teachers than last year. Suggestions of a recruitment crisis have however been stringently denied by the Department of Education.

Comment: Some of our recent Primary graduates may be surprised to learn that it is becoming easier to find teaching jobs.  Any easing of the currently highly competitive recruitment situation at Primary level will of course be good news - but one wonders whether any benefits will be equally spread across the country.  What happens in Stratford may not come about so readily in Cumbria.

International Teacher Recruitment Fair in Glasgow

International Education Recruitment agency Worldteachers are holding their inaugural Teacher Recruitment Fair in the Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow - UK on 13th and 14th February 2012.

A number of International schools will be attending from various countries, to interview and offer jobs to teachers at various levels in different subjects.

Opportunities range from graduate Primary and Kindergarten teachers through to senior Secondary teachers, as well as TEFL and ESL language teachers.

If you want to attend you will need to register in advance at http://www.worldteachers.net/_microsites/teacherrecruitmentfairs/getintouch

I understand Worldteachers will also be offering  interviews to applicants from  6th February 2012.

It's Not All Doom and Gloom...

Further to the earlier post "What Do Graduates Do?", the AGCAS Quarterly Survey of Vacancies and Employer Activity suggests a positive trend during the summer of 2011.

Vacancies in IT, retail, marketing, advertising and PR all rose during that period, while the survey also reported increased vacancies from smaller companies, some of whom may have been recruiting graduates for the first time.

At the other end of the scale larger companies, who might have ceased recruitment altogether in earlier recessions, have continued taking on graduates - perhaps to avoid future shortages - although many have reduced numbers and are making more use of internships and temporary posts.

AGCAS reports that the overall picture is mixed as there are still plenty of graduates from previous years competing for posts, but there are some clear signs for optimism.

This will be the last post this year, so here's to wish all reading this a Merry Christmas and an Employable New Year!

Big Changes to PGCE Bursaries for Trainee Teachers...

were announced by the Government last week.

For September 2011, TDA (Training and Development Agency) bursaries will only be available for those studying for PGCE/PGDE in shortage Secondary subjects:-

• Physics, Chemistry, Engineering and Mathematics will attract a bursary of £9,000
  
• Biology, Combined/General Science and Foreign Languages will attract a bursary of £6,000

This effectively withdraws the bursary for Primary PGCE courses, although the number of course places will rise slightly to reflect the increasing number of primary pupils.

There will also be a big increase in places on the "Teach First" programme, whereby graduates can gain teaching experience without first gaining a qualification.