New teachers to receive extra cash incentives to stay in classroom

5 October 2019, 11:10

New teachers will be handed up to £9,000 in extra cash by the government in a bid to keep them in classrooms.

Those training to teach chemistry, physics and modern foreign languages from next year will be given £6,000 over four years, the Department for Education said.

Teachers working in the most undersubscribed areas will be handed up to £9,000.

This cash is on top of bursaries worth around £26,000 which they already get during their training.

It is the first time that teacher recruits in these subjects have been offered the extra incentive.

Those training to study maths have been handed similar incentives for the last two years.

The move is part of efforts to encourage teachers to stay in the classroom.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: "I want both the brightest and the best talent to be drawn to the teaching profession and for schools to compete with the biggest employers in the labour market.

"The bursaries we are announcing today, along with the 2.75% pay rise for all teachers and school leaders this academic year, will do just that, while ensuring that those who stay in the classroom will benefit most."

Government figures published last month showed that around one in five of all teacher trainees eligible for a bursary (across 15 subjects including primary education) were not teaching in a state school 16 months after qualifying.