Wales isn’t perhaps the first choice for teachers at the beginning of their careers.
But perhaps it should be. The cost of living is low but of a high standard, and there are beautiful landscapes and place names, like Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, for starters.
If you love the outdoors, there’s plenty of it to be found in Wales. More than 25 per cent of the Welsh landscape is classified as a national park or area of natural beauty.
And there are around 600 castles scattered across the hills, so you’re never far from the rich history of the country.
It’s also an exciting time for Welsh education. The new Welsh curriculum, which will be used throughout the country by 2022, is another kind of change of scenery. The changes shift the focus to developing higher standards of literacy and numeracy, becoming bilingually competent and also stress the importance of digital competence.
It’s a curriculum designed to help young people to thrive in a future where digital skills, adaptability and creativity will be as crucial as knowledge.
We looked at some key statistics and spoke to one teacher living and working in Wales to find out what sets the country apart.
Education
23,871 – the full-time equivalent qualified teachers in maintained schools.
5,515 – the number of teachers teaching either Welsh first language or other subjects through the medium of Welsh.
17.4 per cent – the percentage of pupils aged 5-15 eligible for free school meals.
18.9:1 – the pupil-teacher ratio for all local authority maintained schools.
2022 – the year that will see the introduction of the new curriculum for Wales.
Source: Welsh Government School Census Results 2018
Lifestyle
£158,696 – the average cost of a property (well below the national average for England, at £243,128).
Source: UK House Price Index summary: March 2019
£22,018 – the average cost of living per household (below the UK average of £25,766). Cardiff is 4th in the list of UK cities with the most income after household spend.
26 per cent – the percentage of Wales that is designated as a National Park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
What is it like to teach in Wales?
We asked a teacher living in Wales what sets teaching apart in the region.
Leah Crimes, head of sixth form at Rydal Penrhos School, Colwyn Bay says: “I’ve been teaching for 13 years, always in Wales. I currently live 10 miles from where I grew up, and at half-term I’m moving back to my childhood postcode.
“The only time that I have taught in England was during my teacher training but my husband and I have such a better quality of life in North Wales, we decided to lay down our roots here.
“Obviously the biggest difference from teaching in England is that we use the Estyn (Welsh inspectorate) over Ofsted, and the monopoly that the WJEC exam board has over examinations.
“We’re also currently in draft consultation for the new Curriculum for Wales, which looks very exciting and pupil focused. It is going to be a big change for schools initially, but a good idea in the long run. We don’t even know how the new GCSEs will look, so that’s both unnerving and exciting in equal measure.
“I feel lucky as we seem to have slightly less scrutiny of data than in other countries, and we don’t have the huge academisation of schools as is the case in England. However, school funding in Wales isn’t as handsome as in England, so I suppose it’s swings and roundabouts.
Outdoor opportunities
“I live on the North Wales coast and we are blessed with a beautiful seaside, rolling hills and fantastic opportunities if you’re an outdoor-type. Snowdonia National Park is extremely close, with a whole host of activities such as Zip World, Surf Snowdonia and, of course, the mountains to climb and caves to explore.
“The cost of living is cheaper in Wales, and it’s a very calm and serene place to live. It’s not particularly fast and furious (if that’s what you’re into), but it’s perfect for young families, because of the environment.
“We have brilliant theatres in Llandudno, Mold and Bangor, as well as regular arts and food festivals. I’m not particularly interested in sports, but we’re also in the home of welsh Rugby, and the community regularly comes together to watch the games at Eirias Park.
“We don’t live far from Chester and Liverpool, so if we want a busier day or evening then it’s very accessible. We have great transport links to all major cities (London is only three hours direct on the train) so there’s lots of opportunities for great school trips for our students.
“If you’re thinking of relocating to Wales, visit lots of areas as the country is very diverse. Do some research into the locations you’re considering because there are some areas in the west that do have a mainly Welsh-speaking community, but on the whole, Wales has something for everyone at all stages in life.”