Newcastle benefits from ‘The Great Resignation’ as Northern teaching numbers boom

The number of Geordies interested in teaching has rocketed since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Searches for teacher training courses climbed by 12% between 2020 and 2021 in a trend that researchers are attributing to 'The Great Resignation'.

The term refers to the trend in people nationwide looking for new careers due to restrictions and reflections brought around by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nationally, the pandemic resulted in the overall recruitment of teacher trainees exceeding the national target for the first time in a decade.

Applications were up on the target by 6% for secondaries and 30% for primaries - shown by research conducted by Access Education.

It's in the North where the boom in teachers is being felt.

Glasgow saw a rise of 19.51%, coming in the first place - whilst Liverpool, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Leeds all featured in the Top 10.

Adrian Brown, founder of My School Portal, an Access Education company said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has undeniably changed how some people think about life, work and whether or not they are happy within their existing role.

"Over the past two years we’ve seen thousands of people deciding to throw caution to the wind and not only consider a new role, but perhaps a different profession altogether.

“The remarkable work of teachers throughout the pandemic was recognised across the country, with many going above and beyond to ensure learning could continue.

"These heroic efforts clearly inspired others to consider a role in teaching - perhaps as they sought a more meaningful and fulfilling career.”