The government is developing a new teaching degree apprenticeship for those without degrees, the Department for Education has confirmed.
In its new pay recommendation submission to the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB), the DfE said it was working with the sector and with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education “to develop a new degree and qualified teacher status-awarding apprenticeship in teaching”.
Currently, apprenticeships are offered as a teacher training route, but only at postgraduate level. A degree apprenticeship enables students to get a degree while they work.
The idea of apprenticeships for those without degrees has been previously mooted, though this is the first time officials have outlined concrete plans.
Speaking at the Conservative Party Conference last year, former schools minister Jonathan Gullis said he “would like to explore the opportunity” of undergraduate apprenticeships because of the “challenge” of recruitment.
In its submission, the DfE said the aim of the new apprenticeship would be to “further boost the availability of apprenticeships for aspiring teachers, allowing them to gain a degree and QTS without incurring student debt”.
Return of former teachers ‘important component’ of recruitment
Later in its submission, the DfE said that the return of former teachers is “an important component of the department’s recruitment strategy”.
“The department will continue to prioritise initiatives that facilitate their return to the profession,” it added.
And a review of the postgraduate apprenticeship route is also underway, according to the document.
“The department is currently reviewing the postgraduate teaching apprenticeship (PGTA) at level 6, with a view to making it more effective for the sector,” the submission added.
“It is envisioned that the reform of PGTA will enable more schools to employ apprentice trainee teachers, aiding teacher sufficiency.”
Teacher recruitment numbers were described as “catastrophic” by union leaders last year, with experts calling for “radical action” to fix the underlying problems with low pay and high workload in the teaching profession.
The DfE’s submission to the STRB has recommended a pay rise of 3 per cent for experienced teachers in 2023-24.
The government has said in a written submission to the pay review body that the rise, coupled with increasing teacher starting salaries from £28,000 to £30,000 (and to £34,502 in Inner London), will be “manageable” within schools’ budgets next year.
