Lucy Kellaway writes for Schools Week and shares a candid and compelling response to the government’s current teacher workforce strategy. Drawing on her own experience of switching careers and helping others do the same, she argues that recruiting new graduates won’t be enough to solve the long-term teacher shortage.
She highlights how career changers, especially those over 40, are a growing and often overlooked force in education. With higher retention rates and real-world experience, they can play a transformative role, particularly in STEM subjects where shortages are greatest.
"91 per cent of qualified ‘Now Teachers’ aged over 40 are still teaching a year after gaining QTS, compared to 61 per cent of the same age group nationally."
With Now Teach aiming to deliver 1,600 new teachers by the end of this parliament, Lucy calls for targeted, evidence-based interventions that support diverse routes into teaching, as well as greater flexibility and peer networks to keep teachers in the classroom.
Read the full Schools Week article here.
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