Government to offer schools up to £28k to boost teacher apprenticeships

The government says it hopes to cover the cost of training apprentices in mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, computing, and modern foreign languages – the subjects which have the highest teacher shortages. 

As part of a drive to recruit 6,500 new teachers, postgraduate teaching apprenticeship (PGTA) courses will also be slashed from twelve months to nine, aligning to the school year and getting newly trained teachers into the classroom sooner.   

Courses will still offer the same content but at a reduced length - with trainees gaining Qualified Teacher Status after they have completed the programme, going on to build successful careers in teaching.  

The government says the changes build on "wider steps" already being taken to support teacher recruitment and retention, including last summer’s 5.5% pay award and a targeted retention incentive, worth up to £6,000 after tax for early career teachers working in shortage subjects.

"Recruiting and keeping high-quality teachers in our classrooms is the single biggest driver of high standards in schools, which is why our Plan for Change has a clear commitment to recruit an additional 6,500 expert teachers by the end of this Parliament," said Schools Minister, Catherine McKinnell.

"Our schools are crying out for more expert teachers, and this government will continue to pull every lever it can to plug the gaps and build on the green shoots we are already seeing. 

"Bringing teaching apprenticeships in line with the school year is not only logical, it will open the doors for more and more people to become brilliant teachers, shaping the lives of the next generation.” 

As part of the work to drive high and rising standards in schools the government’s landmark Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill is also introducing measures to ensure new teachers have or are working towards Qualified Teacher Status, so that children can benefit from high-quality teaching.