Sally Jones  RSS feed | About

WHEN Robert Knight was made redundant from his management job at Evesham Foods, there was only one thing he wanted to do - teach.

He had spent 18 years working at the firm and this was the perfect opportunity to follow his dream.

"Almost as soon as I finished I went down the JobCentre to find out what I needed to do to get in to teaching," he said.

Now in his final year of a three- year degree in primary school teaching at the University of Worcester, 41-year-old Mr Knight is among a growing number of older workers retraining as teachers.

According to the Teacher Training and Development Agency (TTDA), nearly one in three trainee teachers is now aged over 30 as workers abandon other careers.

"It used to be the case that almost all newly-qualified teachers were in their early 20s," said Graham Holley, the TTDA's executive director.

"Day-to-day job satisfaction, competitive pay and prospects, and flexible training options mean that teaching is proving an attractive career for older graduates."

He added: "Having a mixed age group among the school workforce can only be a good thing for headteachers, schools and students, as younger and older teachers new to the profession both have much to offer."

Robert Knight is retraining as a teacher. Picture: Martin Humby. 13347803

For Mr Knight, of Larkspur Drive, Evesham, it had always been an ambition of his to become a teacher.

"When my son was at school I used to go in and help out and I really enjoyed it," he recalls.

"I wanted the opportunity to help influence children's lives and the pleasure you get from seeing a child achieve something is fantastic. I knew it was the right choice for me."

Mr Knight started his course at the University of Worcester in 2005, and was among 15 mature students on the three-year full-time course.

"I was a little anxious about starting a course with lots of younger students but it has been OK and most of the time I have worked independently or been out at schools actually teaching," he said.

As part of his training, Mr Knight has spent time working at schools across Worcestershire and also spent some time at a school in Belgium. "I am doing modern foreign languages as one of my options so this was a great opportunity," he said.

Mr Knight said he had no regrets about switching to a career in teaching and was hopeful of finding a position at a local primary school when he finishes his degree this summer.

* From September 1 2008 a newly qualified teacher will start on a salary of at least £20,133 (£24,168 in inner London).

ALEX TOOTELL

Alex Tootell spent 11 years working his way up the corporate ladder in retail before deciding to pursue a career in teaching.

“I am doing modern foreign languages as one of my options so this was a great opportunity”

The 34-year-old science graduate was head of merchandising at Wyevale Garden Centres, holding down a high-flying, well-paid job.

"I really enjoyed my job at Wyevale and had so many opportunities," he said.

But the money and the perks could not eventually compete with his desire to teach.

"Teaching is a very dynamic environment to be in," said the father-of-two.

"It's extremely rewarding in so many ways. My career has never been about money, its about doing something I enjoy and I knew teaching would fulfil that desire.

"When I was working at Wyevale I spent time mentoring apprentices, and I took great pleasure out of helping them and seeing them achieve.

"I went and did some work experience at a school, to see how I would get on. I was thrown in at the deep end at the end of the week, when I had to actually teach a class. It was incredibly scary but I loved the buzz I got from it."

It was following this experience that Mr Tootell, from Hereford, enrolled on the PGCE course at the University of Worcester.

He is specialising in science and has secured employment as a secondary school science teacher, when he finishes the course this summer.

LORNA LEESE

Lorna Leese decided to train as a teacher after spending 15 years as a full time mother-of-three.

"My eldest son is disabled so I have been at home caring for him and my two other children," said the 42-year-old.

"But now he is 15 and at school, and my youngest is six, so I feel I have more time now for me."

Mrs Leese, of Charles Way, Malvern, is nearing the end of a PGCE in secondary maths at the University of Worcester.

"I did a maths degree before I had the children and, although I had always wanted to be a teacher, it was more the done thing to become an accountant, which I did," she said.

"But I never really enjoyed it, and when I had Ian I gave up work. Now though I can do what I want to do and it's really exciting.

"I don't think it's ever too late to pursue your dreams.

"I think having children and being older has helped me because I have experience."

Mrs Leese has undertaken placements at the Chantry and the Chase high schools during her course and is now hoping to find a job as a maths teacher in one of the county's secondary schools.

"Training to become a teacher has been really hard work," she said.

"Especially as I haven't worked for 15 years and I have a family to look after, but it's been worth it so far and I think I'm going to really enjoy the rest of my career."

8:18am Tuesday 8th April 2008

Print   Email this   Comment