Portsmouth City Council takes teacher recruitment drive online

The initiative has been launched by the city council due to ongoing Covid restrictions preventing in-person events.

The webinars will be hosted by former teacher and cabinet member for education, Cllr Suzy Horton, and will provide people with the opportunity to find out about different routes into the teaching profession as well as the chance to ask questions.

Cllr Horton said: ‘With many events going online this is a new and innovative way to reach more people who might not have considered teaching in Portsmouth before. This webinar will help you learn more about the routes into teaching.’

Prospective candidates will also have the opportunity to speak with two teachers currently working in the city’s schools about what inspired them to get into teaching and their experience so far.

Emily Brown, who teaches at Court Lane Infant School, said: ‘I'm really excited to be joining Teach Portsmouth for their brand new webinar. As a newly qualified teacher, Portsmouth is a great city to work in with plenty of opportunities to develop.

‘Knowing where to start can be tricky, so it's good to hear from people who have already made the journey. The path you take is really personal. Generally, a school-based route may offer more classroom time whereas a university route often provides more opportunities to learn about theory - it really depends on what you want.’

The first webinar will take place on Wednesday November 4 between 4pm and 5pm and will focus on the differences between a more vocational school-based route and the more traditional university option. Two further events are also planned looking at 'changing career to teaching' and 'progression in teaching’.

With an ongoing national shortage of teachers, particularly in subjects such as maths and the sciences, the Local Authority hope the webinars can help attract new teachers as well as encourage the return of those who have left the profession.

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Deputy director for children, families and education, Mike Stoneman, said: ‘Covid-19 has made council teams consider digital alternatives to deliver services. Teach Portsmouth continues to promote the recruitment and retention of teachers locally - with webinars being an exciting new way to find out more.

‘Webinars allow us to reach different people who might not be able to attend in-person events.’

The recruitment drive is particularly aimed at local residents. Anyone interested in taking part can register via the Teach Portsmouth website.

Teach Portsmouth is part of the Portsmouth Education Partnership which includes the city council and local education providers.

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