We got the jobs that 110 teachers wanted

8:50am Tuesday 15th July 2008

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EARLIER this year, an expert on teacher recruitment and retention predicted that “finding a job this year is going to be a challenge for everyone”.

Professor John Howson, of Education Data Surveys, said there were thousands of newly qualified teachers emerging from universities and colleges, but a dwindling number of jobs as pupil numbers in schools continue to fall.

In Worcester, teaching jobs are often hard to come by because the area is a desirable place to live and work. But eight newly qualified teachers have bagged a job at the city’s Nunnery Wood High School, starting this September.

The school received 110 applications for the eight posts.

Those selected included a number of young graduates straight out of university, and others who had sought to change career later in life.

Among them are two new science teachers and a new maths teacher, both of which have become notoriously difficult to recruit.

Headteacher Alun Williams said: “We are delighted with the quality of teachers we have recruited this year. Every post attracted a number of responses and we were able to choose the people we think will best fit in to our school.

“Some subjects are always harder to recruit, such as maths, and we advertised that post a lot earlier. But we were pleased with the responses.

“I think Worcester is a very desirable place to want to work, and here at Nunnery Wood we can offer newly qualified teachers a great start to their career.”

Nunnery Wood is a specialist science college, and therefore attracts a number of applications from science teachers. The two new science teachers starting in September are Jessica Pollard and Phil Vaughan, both aged 25, and fresh from finishing a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE).

Mr Vaughan has a degree in chemistry and Miss Pollard a degree in biochemistry.

“I initially did science because I always enjoyed it and I was good at it,” said Mr Vaughan. “I decided that I wanted to pass on some of that enthusiasm to others. Sometimes kids struggle to find where science fits in, but if they look around them, science is everywhere.

“I’m looking forward to getting started at the school and helping the pupils to enjoy science.”

When asked if she thought science was a male-dominated subject Miss Pollard said: “I don’t think so. There are more females doing science now than ever. It is a subject that everyone can enjoy.”

Catherine Bridge, 34, has been recruited as the school’s new maths teacher.

Ms Bridge, 34, spent eight years as a data analyst after completing a degree in geography. She has just finished a PGCE at the University of Worcester.

“When I worked as a data analyst I didn’t feel like I was making a difference,” she said.

“That’s why I decided to start a career in teaching. It is such a rewarding job.”

“I know a lot of children don’t like maths, but I hope to give them confidence and help them to find it rewarding and interesting.

“I want to encourage children to like maths more.”

Jade Smith joins the school as a ceramics teacher. The 28-year-old said: “My mother was a teacher and she loved it and so I decided to give it a go. I used to work in sales and marketing but the job did nothing for me. I wanted to work with children and after trying primary education, decided a secondary school was the place I wanted to be.”

While most newly qualified teachers take a PGCE, the government is trying to widen the opportunities available to join the teaching profession.

Paul Gregory has taken advantage of the GTP (graduate teacher programme) course, which offers in-house training.

Mr Gregory, aged 41, has worked at Nunnery Wood for three years helping out in the design and technology department. But he decided it was time to train as a fully qualified teacher.

“I love working at the school and spending time in the classroom so I thought why not,” he said. “I’m so glad to be given the opportunity.”

Other newly qualified teachers starting in September are Nick Neal, aged 24, who will teach English; Stephanie Marshall, 22, who will teach PE; and Laurence Roleston, 24, who will teach history.