An initiative launched by a leading North East-based education recruitment company, The Education Network, is helping newly qualified teachers (NQTs) to launch their careers.
The Education Network is one of the UK’s primary suppliers of recruitment and professional development services to schools, academies, learning partnerships and multi-academy trusts.
With many schools across the country reporting difficulties finding quality teachers, particularly in primary and secondary schools, The Education Network is working with its partner schools to give new teachers the opportunity to develop their teaching experience and find employment.
Kevin Gill, Managing Director at The Education Network, said: “We consulted widely with our NQTs about their main concerns when starting work, finding the right school to complete their Induction and student debt came out top.
“In direct response to this, we now offer financial support and free on-going training and professional development as an incentive to give motivated NQTs the best possible start if they choose to launch their teaching career with us.
“We deliver our NQT scheme in partnership with our fantastic network of client schools who work with us to support NQTs through the process of finding the right school for their Induction period, which enables our partner schools to tap into fresh talent and support the development of a new generation of outstanding teachers.”
Monkton Infants School, part of the South Tyne Learning Partnership, has been working with The Education Network for three years. They recruited Alex Morton, 24, from Newcastle in January as an early years teacher.
Alex, who trained with North Tyneside SCITT (School Centred Initial Teacher Training) which is accredited by Northumbria University, has just completed the first term of her NQT Induction and accepted a permanent job at Monkton Infants, starting in September.
She received an excellent assessment on a recent Ofsted observation and says The Education Network is providing an essential service for teachers at the beginning of their careers.
“The Education Network fully understands the challenges and difficulties we face in continuing our training and finding the right school. We’ve worked extremely hard to get this far, they understand and take a personal, hands-on approach to matching the right NQTs to the right schools in the partnership.
“Since qualifying last June The Education Network has been incredibly supportive. They helped me to gain experience in a range of different teaching environments throughout EYFS and KS1 and provided additional training through CPD courses which has increased my knowledge of both safeguarding and challenging behaviour procedures.
“The honest and constructive feedback I’ve received from my placements and the continual support from The Education Network team has enabled me to secure a permanent job in a fantastic and progressive school.”
For successfully completing the first term of her Induction, The Education Network has awarded Alex a £250 bonus. The bonus is part of an initiative for newly qualified teachers seeking to start their Induction year with The Education Network. The company is offering NQTs free Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and up to £250 for successfully completing each stage of their Induction.
Kevin Gill adds: “We are committed to helping raise the standards of education through innovative schemes and partnerships which support the training and development of outstanding teachers.
“Through ongoing collaboration with our partner schools, clients and the communities in which we operate, we are continually developing new ways to work together which add value and help our partner schools, as well as benefit the wider community.”
The Education Network launched in Newcastle in 2011. The company now operates 15 offices nationally with five in the North East. They also work with local businesses and community groups through commercial partnerships and sponsorships which support educational attainment.