Teacher backs a new recruitment campaign for 2018
WITH the nation heading back to work after the festive break, new figures released show January continues to be a popular month for people in the East Midlands looking to switch into teaching as a career.
Expressions of interest from career changers in the East Midlands spiked in January 2017 with 887 registrants, according to figures from the Get Into Teaching campaign.
Louise Hill, an art teacher from Hastings High School in Hinckley took the decision to leave her career as a children’s wear designer in 1999, to go in search of a more rewarding career.
Louise is now supporting the national Get Into Teaching campaign, by recommending other people in the East Midlands to consider making the switch.
With over half a million (520,093) users, last January was also the month when most traffic was recorded on the Get Into Teaching website – where prospective candidates can find out more about teaching as a career and access support all the way through the application process.
Analysis of these visitors supports the trend for New Year resolutions to be focused on career ambitions; the largest group came from people aged 25 to 34 and those already in full time employment.
Louise said: “I’d always been intrigued by teaching and imagined it to be a very rewarding career.
“After five years as a children’s wear designer, I decided that I needed a career that fitted into my family life and reflected my interest in helping young people to develop their creativity.
“This marked a turning point in my life when I realised I needed a new challenge, and felt teaching could offer me this. The idea of switching my profession was nervewracking, but it felt the right thing to do.
“I did my research, applied for the training, and haven’t looked back since.
“Teaching at my school in Hinckley really makes me proud and brings daily rewards. For example, students often tell me how much they love art. I definitely made the right decision to change my career and would advise any other professionals who might be considering it to take the time to think about teaching this new year.”
Get Into Teaching is offering a package of support to help bridge the gap between candidates in Hinckley considering teaching as one of their resolutions, and actually registering their interest and applying. This includes a series of events, opportunities to get some classroom experience and tailored advice from teaching experts to help people through the application process.
Roger Pope, spokesperson for the Get Into Teach- ing campaign and Chair of the National College for Teaching and Leadership, said: “Many of us will be making resolutions for 2018 - in fact we know from YouGov data that 15 per cent of us will make one of those goals related to a career ambition.
“We also know that people take time over the Christmas holidays to think about what their day job means to them, and what they might be more motivated to do.
“That’s where teaching comes into its own - whether you’re driven by the rational or emotional, teaching really is unique. Every day you have the chance to change someone’s life. It’s such a meaningful role where you can go home at the end of every day feeling proud of what you’ve achieved.”
To support the latest generation of New Year career changers, a series of online and Train to Teach roadshow events are starting this month.
On Saturday January 20, 10am - 4pm, there will be a Train to Teach roadshow event at Edgbaston Stadium, Edgbaston Road, Birmingham, B5 7QU.
There is also a Train to Teach event on Thursday, March 1, 4.30pm–8pm at Mercure Leicester The Grand Hotel, Granby Street, Leicester, LE1 6ES. Online events this month include:
Monday January 15, 6.30pm–7.30pm: Change career to teaching
Monday January 29, 6.30pm–7.30pm: Gaining school experience
For more information, visit https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk or call the Get Into Teaching line on 0800 389 2500.
To find out more about the series of online and face-to-face events, visit: https://getintoteaching. education.gov.uk/teaching-events