Major boost for aspiring teachers

Renfrewshire is to benefit from a scheme to encourage people to retrain as secondary school teachers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is to be extended.

The STEM bursary programme exceeded its target during a successful first year, with 107 bursaries approved totalling more than £2 million.

Subjects eligible for bursaries of up to £20,000 were Chemistry, Computing Science, Mathematics, Physics and Technology.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney confirmed the scheme – part of the STEM Strategy for Education and Training – will be available for career changers applying for teacher training courses starting in August 2019. Applications will open in the new year.

Mr Swinney said:“We want to help people who have invaluable experience of working in industry to use their knowledge and life skills to inspire the next generation.

“More than 100 new STEM teachers will soon be in classrooms as a result of this scheme and I am confident the bursary will attract even more talented people to apply.

“Developing Scotland’s STEM talent and capability is key to future economic growth so it is important we have specialist teachers who can bring their enthusiasm into classrooms. This bursary is just one of the actions underway to make a career in teaching more accessible to more people.”