While overall trainee teacher numbers are falling, more people over 50 are stepping into classrooms. A new article in The Times reports a 67% rise in over-50s starting teacher training over the past two years, even as total trainee numbers across all age groups dropped by 2% in England.
Since 2017, we have supported more than 1,100 later-stage career changers into teaching, focusing on recruiting those who can teach shortage subjects like languages and STEM to help fill critical gaps in schools across England.
Our CEO, Graihagh Crawshaw-Sadler, told The Times:
"The continued increase in older people changing careers to teach has been a rare good news story in a grim decade for teacher recruitment in England. The post-Covid years have accelerated this trend as talented individuals seek a career that gives back."
The article features Now Teachers like Alison Bryant, a former business executive now teaching French and Spanish, and Stuart Fuller, who retrained from graphic design to teach design and technology. They show that it is never too late to make a difference.
Older career changers bring a lifetime of experience, resilience and commitment into schools. Despite recent government funding cuts, we are determined to keep helping them thrive because their impact in the classroom has never been more needed.
Read the full article on The Times here.