Supply of teachers up

The number of people interested in becoming teachers in England has soared since the start of the economic downturn. The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) has reported a 40% increase in inquiries to its website since March, the beginning of the credit crunch. The number of people eligible to teach maths is up 25% on the same period last year, and the latest figures show the TDA has beaten its overall recruitment target by 2%. A spokeswoman said the increased interest in teaching was a result of the tougher economic climate. The number of people registering an interest in changing career to become a teacher has also risen – by 13% year on year – as graduates and career-changers seek more secure career paths in the wake of financial instability, the TDA said. Graham Holley, chief executive of the TDA, said: "There's a lag between people who express an interest in teaching, and those going on to become teachers. But even a 1% increase at that end means 4,000 new teachers. "In my experience, the level of interest is completely unprecedented. I've never seen anything like it. "Teaching is already pretty popular and a top choice for career changers. If you add to that the credit crunch, it means there's an accelerated movements towards teaching."