Teacher recruitment on the up

TEACHER recruitment in Suffolk schools is the best in the eastern region, figures announced today show.

A survey of the county's schools, which suffered a serious recruitment crisis three years ago, showed 39.7 vacancies in January, equating to 0.8 per cent of the teacher workforce. The figure for all the eastern counties was 1.5pc.

Sue Thomas, county advisor for professional development in recruitment and retention of newly qualified teachers (NQTs), said: "Suffolk showed the lowest reported vacancies of all the eastern counties.

"There is not the crisis there was three or four years ago although there are pockets of the county where recruitment is difficult. It has lessened but not completely passed."

Ms Thomas said recruitment in so called 'shortage subjects' like English, maths, science and design and technology can be difficult in the county's secondary schools.

She added: "There are vacancies at the moment which is part of the rhythm and cycle of the teaching year. With regard to newly qualified teachers we are recruiting more than any time in the last four years which is very encouraging.

"Applications for teaching jobs in Suffolk are rising year on year."

Ms Thomas said Suffolk and Norfolk both benefit from a graduate teacher training programme.

She said: "Suffolk is growing and keeping its own teachers. There are about 220 new teachers trained in Suffolk and Norfolk every year."

The county has so far recruited 183 NQTs in its primary schools compared to 158 last year.

Ms Thomas said: "Nationally recruitment in secondary schools is still depressed. We have recruited 82 this year in secondary school compared with 78 last year which is encouraging."

Figures for middle school recruitment were down slightly from 24 to 20. However, Ms Thomas said teachers are still being recruited in the county.

N Would you like to be a teacher? For more information about taster courses and teacher training E-mail teachsuffolk@educ.suffolkcc.gov.uk