Bristol teachers reveal struggle to find work

Four years ago, Sophie Newman graduated as a primary school teacher. Armed with outstanding grades and references she was quietly confident she would easily find a newly qualified teaching (NQT) position in Bristol.

However, dozens of applications and interviews later she has almost given up on the prospect of getting a teaching job at all. “It was only after graduating that I discovered there was a shortage of career opportunities in Bristol,” said Sophie.

“In my class alone there are a number of us who haven’t managed to secure a NQT place. We feel let down because it just hadn’t been talked about… it was an unsaid secret that Bristol was an extremely hard place to get a NQT place.”

Bristol City Council spokeswoman Hilda Kalap said: “We do know that the number of newly qualified teachers applying for posts in Bristol is high. We have those training at local universities, students returning home to work so they can live at home, quite a few from South Wales due to the requirement for Welsh language speakers in many South Wales schools.”

More than 100 applicants for a job

She added that there are also a large number of teachers relocating from the London area. “Bristol, as a city, has a good profile as a place to live, there is plenty of rental accommodation, too. In addition Bristol has opportunities for alternative routes into teaching – graduate programmes, teaching schools and Teach First is now in its second year.”

All of this means there are a high number of NQTs applying for positions in Bristol, competing against highly qualified and experienced teachers moving into the city. One NQT who spoke to Bristol24/7 said: “I’ve spent time, money and energy only to discover the jobs just weren’t there…I’m going for jobs in the city and there are more than 100 applicants – of course the schools are going to take the more experienced candidates.”

Professor John Howson from the Department of Education at Oxford University thinks there needs to be a fundamental change in the way teachers are trained: “The risk is always on the teacher with tuition fees of £9,000 per year and no guarantee of a job at the end. The government doesn’t make it clear that you are on your own, nobody is responsible for you.

“You just wouldn’t get the same scenario in the army for example. Your training is paid for and you have a guaranteed position in a regiment at the end of it.”

Families constrained

He also points out that it is not a case of training too many teachers, rather there is no geographical control where people want to live and work, so they naturally want to move to “incredibly attractive” places like Bristol and Bath.

“The situation is especially acute for second career teachers in Bristol who, with family commitments, cannot move,” said Prof Howson. “The government ought to take notice of the fact that one third of student teachers are mature students who tend to be geographically constrained.” He believes there should be a “location specific” element to NQT training favouring those graduates who live and train locally.

Bath Spa University and the University of the West of England (UWE) are the two big training colleges in the area which, between them, train hundreds of primary and secondary school teachers each year.

Alison Fletcher, head of education at UWE, said while she has not heard of a lack of NQT places in the city “there are a lot of teachers being qualified in the Bristol area”. 

She added: “Bristol is experiencing a boom in primary school population and schools are adding additional classrooms so there should be an increasing number of jobs available.”

Job security warning

According to UWE, 96% of their PGCE (post-graduate teacher training) secondary trainees in 2012/13 had secured NQT posts. Of the 2013/14 primary PGCE graduates so far 63% have found NQT places – 56% finding positions in the Bristol and Weston area.

“There are plenty of jobs for good or outstanding candidates with good references who will work in any primary school,” she added.

Fletcher explains that they have to cater for a national demand for teachers. “The universities are told how many places to make available every year by the government which uses a teacher supply and demand model. This is based on the number of teachers needed nationally and is determined annually.”

Bristol division secretary Lisa Middle, from the National Union of Teachers, said “traditionally, the South West is a difficult place” (to get a job in). Although she is not aware of an “acute problem” (in Bristol), she would “urge caution to anyone considering teaching, especially if it is a second career choice”.

“It is a fantastic job, but it is no longer secure. Performance-related pay and market forces are making it difficult for teachers.”

Appalling way to run schools

She also warns that the job market for teachers is experiencing a sea change. “Experienced teachers are more expensive, free schools do not have to employ qualified teachers and, if the Conservative [Party] gets in again, there are indications that schools will be able to make a profit and they will be looking for teachers who are a lot cheaper.

“I fear the rule of the market will become more widespread and it is an appalling and terrible way to run schools.”

Sophie Newman is already looking for a job outside teaching. “Had I known what I know now, I would have re-thought my decision to train. So far it has been a waste of time, money and energy.”

*Some names have been changed 

Picture: Shutterstock