Open letter to the Secretary of State for Education from representatives of subject associations, November 3 2020
Council for Subject Associations logo
Dear Mr Williamson,
We are deeply concerned by the short-sighted decision to reduce and in many cases remove bursaries from trainees in a number of subjects and in primary teaching. Cutting off support conveys a strong signal as to the value of teaching in our society. Lack of financial support is likely to deter well-qualified and ambitious graduates due to these negative messages and potential hardship issues. Although we know that the size of bursary payments has always followed the economic cycle, making such an extreme change is likely to generate fresh problems in supply very quickly. Potential applicants, with a strong commitment to teaching as a career, who are aware of how much money has been lost this year may well conclude that they would be better off waiting for a year or two until a bursary has been reinstated. If providers struggle to recruit to target because of the complete lack of bursaries and cannot provide relevant subject routes within particular programmes as result, valuable expertise and productive partnerships will be lost from the system, making it difficult to build back quickly when further supply is needed (as it inevitably will be.)
Not all of those coming into teaching are 22-year-old graduates who are already accustomed to taking on large student loans to cover fees as well as living expenses. Many of the most effective teachers are those who have valuable life or work experience in diverse roles, enabling them to offer young people a richer and more informed view of the value of what they are learning within the curriculum. It is potential career-changers who are most likely to be deterred by the prospect of accruing substantial debts in order to train as a teacher.
All of us who have signed up to this letter understand that current economic pressures might make this appear to be a short-term option but the impact on the profession could have serious long-term implications.
Directors, CEOs and Chairs of the following subject associations have all signed up to this letter
Association for Citizenship Teaching
Association for Language Learning
Association for Physical Education
Association for Science Education
Association for the Teaching of Psychology
Classical Association
Computing at School
Design & Technology Association
Early Education
English Association
Geographical Association
Historical Association
Incorporated Society of Musicians
Joint Mathematical Association
Media Education Association
National Association for Educational Technology
National Association for Special Educational Needs
National Association for Language Development in the Curriculum
National Association for Teacher of Religious Education
National Drama
National Society for Education in Art & Design
One Dance UK
PSHE Association
National Association for the Teaching of English
Music Mark
UK Literacy Association
