The North West is a diverse region, with something for everyone, and an attractive option for teachers at any stage of their career.
It is made up of the counties of Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside, and the region has a huge amount to offer; from buzzing cities such as Manchester and Liverpool, to the stunning and remote beauty of the Lake District and Peak District.
We looked at the key statistics about working in education in the area and spoke to teachers already based in the region.
Key statistics:
Education
£38,330 – The average salary of all teacher (just below the national average of £38,816).
17.9 – The average number of pupils per teacher (exactly on the national average).
9.4 per cent – The amount of schools reporting a vacancy or temporarily filled post (lower than the national average of 11.9 per cent).
9.2 per cent – The amount of primary teachers leaving the profession (the second lowest rate in the country).
10.7 per cent – The amount of secondary teachers leaving the profession (the joint third lowest alongside the East Midlands).
21.6 per cent – The amount of teaching staff working part time (lower than the national average of 25.9 per cent).
Data taken from the Regional, LA and school tables: school workforce census 2017
Cost of living
£160,811– The average cost of a house in the region (significantly below the national average for England of £244,567).
Data taken from the UK House Price Index January 2019
£23,635 – The average annual cost of living per household (just below the national average of £25,766).
£144 - Liverpool boasts the lowest average monthly grocery bill from 28 of the UK’s largest cities (the highest is Milton Keynes at £272 a month).
Data taken from ABC Finance
What is it like living and working in the North East?
We spoke to three teachers to find out more about the region.
Kevin O’Brien, Thatto Heath Primary School, St Helens, Merseyside:
“The North West provides an eclectic mix of opportunities and activities. Within a couple of hours you can go from a busy city to rural countryside or beachfront views. With two major cities (Liverpool and Manchester) just 40 minutes apart, there is a multitude of things to pursue both in terms of your working life and socially.
“You can sample cuisine from all over the world, and property in the area continues to be affordable in towns such as St Helens and Widnes, both of which have good schools offering teaching posts of interest.
"I grew up in the area, going to primary school, moving to secondary and staying in the area to complete my degree. I then started my teaching career in a school five minutes from where I grew up; 15 years on and I am still there as KS2 leader, SLT and maths co-ordinator. The area is in my blood and I wouldn't want to live or work anywhere else.”
Amy Forrester, head of Year 11, Cockermouth School, Cumbria:
“Living in the North West is great. Born and bred in West Cumbria, there was little doubt in my mind as an NQT about where I wanted to start my career – 10 years on, I am delighted that I moved back. There is a real sense of community here, and teaching in a place where community really matters is a privilege.
“There are other reasons too. The affordable houses mean that it's much easier to get on to the property ladder. I have recently bought my first house and what I could buy here, compared with further south, is so vastly different. This also means that financially, it’s a different world for people up here.
“Everything is cheaper too, which means there is more money left at the end of the month for living. When you live in area rich with experiences, you want to be able to have the luxury of affording to do things.
"There’s lots to do in the Lakes, from cultural experiences to fell running. Having that on your doorstep is such a privilege.”