Teaching is struggling; teachers are struggling. There are fewer of us out there and fewer of us who want to stick it out. The statistics remain frightening. In a recent survey by The Guardian, 40% of the teachers surveyed say they don't want to be teaching in 2024.
But there are those of us who love the job in spite of all the frustrations it can and does bring. What can we do to help our students and those that follow them have access to teachers who want to be there?
There is a bit of help out there from an unexpected source. The DES has been increasing the number of PCGE Drama places in recent years; there are currently 23 institutions offering training for teachers in the subject specialism of Drama. This is clearly counter-intuitive when we are very much aware our subject is in decline.
I think the answer is that the DES has discovered two things. Firstly, that there are a lot of Drama graduates out there who can't get work and secondly Drama graduates are flexible; they can do a lot of things, and particularly, they can teach English.
And this is a good thing because? It means more Drama teachers in schools. Even if they are coming in by the back door, as it were, they are interested in Drama and what it can offer to young people. And that will seep out through productions, after schools clubs, theatre trips and teaching methods creating interest, demand and advocacy.
‘But isn't a lot of hard work?’ I hear you cry. It is true there is a paperwork issue; everything needs to be documented. But the trainees themselves are responsible for it and you should have a timetabled weekly mentor meeting where this paperwork can be filled in. You’ll have someone new and energetic to take some classes and look after some extra-curricular activities. You’ll have someone to steal ideas from and to run ideas past. If you – like me – are a lone practitioner, that's a joy.
I’ve worked with 6 trainee teachers, both at PGCE and Schools Direct and I have to say they have been a pleasure. I hope they learned a lot; I know I did. Just say yes!