Many people consider teaching, but the path to the profession has been overshadowed by perceived problems in recent years. According to 2008 research commissioned by the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) and YouGov, the biggest obstacle is the belief that teaching is poorly paid – but the starting salary for newly qualified teachers is actually £21,102 (£26,000 in London).
"Some top teaching jobs in London command salaries in excess of £100,000," says June Wagstaff, a recruitment adviser for the TDA. "The notion that teaching is badly paid is historical; just look at the pay scale."
Fears over pupils' behavioural issues built the second biggest barrier, but according to Luke Graham, TDA's head of recruitment strategy, classrooms aren't "bear pits". "I was classroom-based until six months ago and never experienced a room of unruly students," claims Graham. "The majority of students want to learn, and they are endlessly entertaining. Schools are run by teams, not individuals, and when the team works together, its fantastically rewarding."
According to the YouGov/TDA research, the third and fourth biggest perceived barriers to teaching are that isn't a "real career" and feels like a "leap in the dark".
"Teaching is so varied that you can't get bored," says Wagstaff, "and you can progress in different directions, suited to your skills and ambitions. "The training is practical: 24 of 36 weeks on the PGCE course for secondary school teachers are spent in the classroom. Trainees observe good practice, hone their skills and try out their teaching. Before you even embark upon the training you'll spend time in a classroom, working out what kind of teacher you want to be and making sure that teaching is for you, so there's no fear of the unknown."
Although the TDA has been working to dispel myths around the profession, the difficult financial climate has certainly influenced the volume of teacher training applications, which increased significantly during 2009.
Lawry Price, assistant dean of learning and teaching in the School of Education at Roehampton University, says that 94%-95% of Roehampton teaching graduates go straight into jobs. "The strong likelihood that you'll get a job in a recession is reward in itself," says Price, "but there are huge returns to be gained from a teaching career."
Indeed, as barriers break down, the incentives and rewards of a teaching career become more widely recognised. As well as good pay and professional prospects, having the same holidays as your children and enjoying more flexible working hours are huge bonuses for many trainees, particularly those changing career.
Using individual subject knowledge and embarking upon a socially beneficial job, further enhances the profession. "I've been teaching for 33 years, at every level from nursery to university," says Price, "and my enthusiasm for the job has never dimmed. Schools are fantastic places, full of life. There hasn't been a single day when I haven't wanted to go to work."
