For the first time Computer Science has also been added as a priority subject eligible for the highest level of incentive.
The incentives are:
- Graduates with a 1st (or a PhD / Masters) undertaking secondary postgraduate Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes in Mathematics, Welsh, Computer Science, physics and chemistry would receive the £20,000 incentive.
- Modern language students with a 1st (or a PhD / Masters) would receive a £15,000 incentive.
- To support students undertaking primary PGCE studies whose subject specialism is in English, Welsh, mathematics, computer science, physics or chemistry with a 1st degree classification (or a PhD / Masters) a £3,000 supplement in addition to the £3,000 incentive will be available.
- A new Welsh medium incentive of £5,000 will compliment arrangements for existing support under the Welsh Medium Improvement Scheme with up to £2,500 payable on successful completion of QTS and a further £2,500 payable on successful completion of induction in a Welsh-medium or bilingual secondary school, or on successful completion of induction teaching Welsh in any secondary setting.
Kirsty Williams said:
“It is impossible to overstate the importance of our teachers’ role in helping to succeed in our national mission to raise standards, reduce the attainment gap and deliver an education system that is a source of national pride and confidence.
“Our ambitious reforms need well-supported, high quality, aspirational teachers. We must therefore attract and support the best graduates.
“In Wales we experience challenges in recruiting to certain subjects and in certain geographical locations. This is the challenge we must, and will, rise to.
“That us why I have decided to announce incentives for academic year 2018/19 early. We are providing clarity and assurance in our commitment to our newest teachers.”
The Education Secretary also revealed new incentives for Welsh-medium secondary school teachers:
“If we are to achieve the ambitious goal set out in Cymraeg 2050 then we need to increase the number of teachers who can teach bilingually, through the medium of Welsh and teach Welsh as a subject.
“Our recruitment for primary Welsh-medium teachers is broadly on track. However, to achieve our targets for secondary we need to increase recruitment to Welsh-medium ITE places each year to meet the target for increasing the number of secondary Welsh-medium teachers by 2021.
“I am announcing a new Welsh-medium incentive which will target secondary PGCE student teachers who are training to teach all subject specialisms through the medium of Welsh or bilingually.”
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