Teachers in Wolverhampton and beyond are set to benefit from up to £6,000 to teach vital subjects as part of a scheme backed by Stuart Anderson, MP. The incentive is backed by an almost £200 million investment to support schools and colleges to attract and retain the excellent teachers that they need in vital subjects. To date, schools across Wolverhampton have already claimed £97,000 from the scheme.
Stuart endorsed the decision to double the existing Levelling Up premium payments to school teachers of maths, physics, chemistry, and computing. He also welcomed the expansion of the scheme to those working in further education and a wider range of subjects including early years, building and construction, digital, engineering, manufacturing and transport engineering and electronics. It is part of the Government’s drive to support schools and colleges to recruit and retain the talented teachers they need - supporting young people to progress and equip them with skills that will help grow our economy.
For 2024/25 and 2025/26, Government will be providing around £100 million each year to double the rates of the Levelling Up Premium to up to £6,000 after tax. The Government is also investing £196 million this academic year to get more teachers across key subjects. This will fund a range of measures, including bursaries worth £28,000 tax free and scholarships worth £30,000 tax free, to encourage talented trainees to key subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry and computing.
The Initial Teacher Training financial incentives package incentivises candidates to take teacher training in hard to recruit subjects and is an increase of £15 million on the last cycle. A further £470 million is being invested over two financial years from 2023-24 to address key priorities, such as recruitment and retention, and providing additional support through the teach in FE campaign and the taking teaching further programme.
Since 2010, the Government has driven up school standards across the country. 90 per cent of schools are now rated good or outstanding, up from 68 per cent in 2010. There are over 468,000 full time equivalent (FTE) teachers in state funded schools in England, an increase of 27,000 and the highest number since 2010.
The expansion has now been announced ahead of the introduction of the Advanced British Standard - a new baccalaureate style post-16 qualification which is set to bring together the best of technical and academic education. The new Standard will an increase teaching time by around 200 hours over the course of the qualification - with a greater breadth and choice of subjects available for young people and a focus on Maths and English.
Stuart Anderson MP said: “Boosting teacher numbers in priority subject areas will develop our skills pipeline and grow the economy, while increasing life chances of young people in Wolverhampton and beyond. So I welcome the decision to double Levelling Up Premium payments and expand them to those in further education. We are also boosting bursaries and scholarships for teachers in science, maths, and other priority subjects, with trainee teachers receiving up to £30,000 tax-free – making sure there are excellent teachers across the country giving students the best possible start in life.”
Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young said: “Spreading opportunity is at the core of the government’s levelling up mission because while we know ability is spread evenly, opportunity is not. That includes supporting young people to thrive through a quality education as everyone deserves the best start in life. A high-quality education relies on excellent teachers and this funding will help schools and colleges attract and retain the staff they need to equip our kids with the best possible start in life.”
