Trainees sign up to teach maths and science

Increasing numbers of people are signing up to train as maths and science teachers, figures showed today.

As the effects of the recession continue to be felt, teaching is becoming an attractive profession for those seeking more job security.

New data shows that applications for science are up by 23 per cent this recruitment year, compared to last year, while applications to teach maths are up 25 per cent, the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) said.

Overall applications for teacher training between 1 September last year and 3 February are up by 10.7 per cent on the same period in the previous year.

The TDA said these figures are taken from the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR).

In addition, TDA figures show that the numbers registering an interest in applying to become a maths teacher are up by 40%, with 4,402 people interested, compared to 3,145 in 2007/08.

A poll commissioned by the TDA has found that one in 10 workers are considering a career in teaching.

The ICM survey questioned 500 full and part-time workers that are considering a change in career.

Graham Holley, chief executive of the TDA, said: "We're seeing an unprecedented and sustained rise in inquiries about teaching.

"Over 1,000 people have visited our 'city seminars' for those in the financial sector considering teaching, and our new TDA Facebook pages - where people who are interested in teaching can chat to existing teachers - are receiving up to 2,700 unique views per day."