Chris Ludlow is the Head of Partnerships at Best Practice Network and is passionate about supporting schools to recruit the next generation of teachers.

Chris can be contacted at partnerships@bestpracticenet.co.uk or you can book a call by visiting this link.

Teacher apprenticeships are a great way for non-teaching staff to gain the skills and qualifications they need to become teachers. Apprenticeships combine on-the-job training with off-the-job study, so apprentices can learn the practical skills of teaching while also gaining a theoretical understanding of the subject matter.

There are many benefits of non-teaching staff enrolling on a Teacher Apprenticeship. Apprentices earn a salary while they learn, so they don't have to take on student debt. They also have the opportunity to work in a school environment and to gain experience teaching real students. 

Teacher apprenticeships are perfect for non-teaching staff who are looking for progression opportunities. They are also an excellent option for people who want to make a difference in the lives of young people.

Here are some specific reasons why a teacher apprenticeship is perfect for training up non-teaching staff:

Non-teaching staff already have a wealth of experience and knowledge that can be applied to teaching. For example, a teaching assistant who has worked with students of all ages and abilities can bring a wealth of knowledge to the classroom.

Non-teaching staff are often highly motivated and eager to learn new skills. They are also typically good at working with people and have strong communication skills. These are all essential qualities for a successful teacher.

Teacher apprenticeships offer a flexible and supportive learning environment. Apprentices work alongside experienced teachers and have access to a wide range of resources and their own dedicated Apprenticeship Tutor. They also have the opportunity to get feedback on their teaching and to develop their skills over time.

Teacher apprentices pay no fees. The costs of the Teacher Apprenticeship will come out of a school's Apprenticeship Levy. Teacher apprentices are able to avoid taking out burdensome loans to cover training costs. This brings me to my final point:

Earn while you learn.  Teacher apprentices are paid on the unqualified teacher pay scale and bursaries are available which can contribute to the apprentice's salary. This makes the Teacher Apprenticeship an economically feasible for both the apprentice and the school.

I am passionate about this new fee-free route into teaching and encourage all schools and MATs to consider offering Teacher Apprenticeships. It is a great way to grow your teaching workforce and to improve the quality of education for your students.

I can be contacted at partnerships@bestpracticenet.co.uk or you can book a call with me using this Bookings link.

You can find out more on our Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship page.