We recently ran an evaluation of the work we do at Now Teach and why career changers have the potential to play a unique role in supporting schools’ improvement priorities. You can read the full Impact Report here.
Introduction
Last year, we learned that the previous government would not be funding a new Career Change Programme contract. Despite this setback, with the support from our Network, donors and sector partners, we secured funding to recruit great career changers for two more years. We proudly met our 2024 target and are on track to recruit 250 new teachers in 2025.
If you want to be part of a cohort of great teachers and feel ready to share your experience in the classroom, register with Now Teach today and chat to our team.
We still believe that the recruitment and retention of career changers to teaching should be funded by government. Philanthropic support has given us the time to make our case to the new government and develop new ideas. But we need the government to step back in.
We can, with the right DfE funding model, deliver 25% of the government’s target of recruiting and retaining 6,500 extra teachers, at just a fraction of the estimated cost.
Why we exist
England’s schools face many challenges. We believe we can contribute to improving England's schools by offering later-stage career changers the support they need to enter teacher training, qualify and thrive in the profession long-term.
To do this, we built a dedicated and long-term offer of support and in doing so, developed a clear vision of what positive impact would look like.
- Recruitment: Increase the number of career-changers entering the profession who would not have become teachers without Now Teach.
- Retention: Support Now Teachers so they stay longer than the average recruit.
- Impact: Provide a framework for Now Teachers and school leaders so their wider expertise can best benefit schools and students.
After more than 1,100 recruits we now have a clear sense of how we are delivering against these priorities and what we want to do next.
Recruitment: Finding a new kind of teacher
Teacher recruitment is a chronic problem with secondary schools facing the worst shortages.
Our solution?
Recruiting experienced people from other sectors looking for more meaningful work.
We have recruited over 1,100 teachers, exceeding our overall DfE recruitment target by 107%.
70% of Now Teachers said they didn’t know if or it was likely they wouldn’t have started teacher training without Now Teach.
Recruitment to our Career Change Programme and Network is only part of the picture. If you think your previous career and life experience would be valued in the classroom, register with Now Teach and we can discuss your options.
Retention: Support designed around career changers
Too many teachers are leaving teaching: 19% of new teachers leave within two years and a 2022 survey indicated that 44% of all teachers in England plan to quit within five years.
Our solution?
Understanding the challenges and specific needs of people face when joining the profession later in their career and working out how to support them.
This includes:
- Translating skills and experience to their new context of schools.
- Navigating the transition of their professional identity.
- Helping schools understand the distinct value of a career changer.
- Connection to a community of other professionals navigating the same transition.
- A ‘third-space’ to bring these elements together.
Two-thirds of Now Teachers still teaching said they didn’t know if or it was likely they would’ve left teaching without Now Teach.
Impact in schools and on students: Getting the most out of career changers’ skills and experience
Career changers have many skills and experiences. To show how this experience can be applied in school, we created an impact framework and found four key areas where career changers typically make the biggest contribution:
- Pastoral
- Learning and curriculum
- Careers support & guidance
- Operational excellence
75% of training providers said Now Teachers provide careers advice and support to students.
What is next for Now Teach?
Over the next five years we aim to:
- Recruit 1,625 new additional teachers with over 15 years’ industry experience; a third from outside London and the South East; a majority in STEM subjects; and an above-average proportion from ethnic minority groups.
- Retain our new teachers at above-average rates.
- Address disadvantage by increasing our presence in high-need schools from 30% to 60%.
- Deepen impact by supporting career changers to translate their experience into classrooms.
- Build our Network further so they support one another and raise the status of the profession.
Career changers are vital in tackling the teacher recruitment and retention crisis. With the right government funding, Now Teach can provide 25% of the new 6,500 teacher target and make a real difference, enhancing students’ education.
Click here to read our full impact report. If you want to enhance the education of young people and share your unique career and life experience, register with Now Teach today.
If you’re a training provider looking for excellent new recruits and want to work with Now Teach, contact our Partnership Lead, Jo Holmes, for more information.
We are also looking for new supporters and partners. If, like us, you believe this work is too urgent and important to neglect, please join us and contact info@nowteach.org.uk.