Alarm at rising drop-out rate for student teachers

The drop-out rate for would-be teachers is rising – with modern language and maths courses among those with the worst record.

A report out today shows that 15 per cent of all trainees drop out before the end of their course (up from 14 per cent last year) with 28 per cent failing to take up a teaching post once they graduate.

The report, an annual survey of teacher training courses by Alan Smithers and Pamela Robinson from the University of Buckingham's Centre for Education and Employment, shows fewer modern languages trainees go on to work in the classroom than any other subject – with just 63 per cent ending up in teaching. Classics has the best rate, at 93 per cent.

On drop-out rates during the course alone, only 6.9 per cent quit in classics compared with 17.6 per cent in modern languages, 18.5 per cent in maths, 18.7 per cent in religious education and 20 per cent in citizenship.

Those who apply for a science or language teaching post are more likely to have lower degree passes than English, history or classics teachers.

"At one end of the spectrum, in classics, social studies, history and English, two-thirds or more of the trainees have a good degree," the report says. "At the other, vocational courses, mathematics, ICT and languages are barely above 40 per cent.

Professor Smithers said the figures indicated why so many children were turning their backs on science and modern languages at A-level.

"For classics, English and history we can get staff who are very well qualified and enthusiastic about their subjects," he added. "Also there are no other major employment areas for history and classics graduates to go into.

"The picture for modern languages, ICT and maths is very different and they're struggling to recruit. They can also look more widely in terms of alternative employment.

"Teaching is also a personal job and candidates for posts such as drama and English are actually going to have a much better rapport with children than your maths or ICT candidate who is likely to have a more impersonal approach to the job."