With the recession starting to bite, and job security increasingly hard to find, working in the public sector becomes ever more appealing.  In The Guardian, Polly Curtis notes that applications for education degrees and teaching training courses have risen by 10.7% and 3.7% respectively (16th February 2009).  Certain subjects seem particularly attractive, with the TES (20th February 2009) reporting a 102.8% rise in applications for Design & Technology courses.  Official figures from the Teaching and Development Agency (TDA) showed almost a 50% rise in enquiries to their website.

But what’s the job situation like for all these new entrants to the profession?  Can anyone become a teacher, or do some of these new recruits underestimate what the job entails?  Will they be able to cope with the demands and stresses of teaching - the poor behaviour, the endless paperwork, the demands of managers and politicians?  And how many of these enthusiastic new teachers will still be in the profession when the recession is over?

In his 2003 report, Alan Smithers cited a turnover and wastage figure of 14.1% (primary) and 7.9% (secondary) in 2001.  Most sources agree that worryingly large number of teachers leave the profession within three to five years of entering it, some citing figures of up to 60%.  The Herald (3rd January 2009) gave the worrying report that almost half of all Scotland’s teachers are due to leave the profession in the next four years.

In my new book, Teaching Skills for Dummies, I show just how much skill, dedication, organisation and creativity the job involves.  I look at the ‘soft skills’ needed by today’s teachers - these alone fill almost 400 pages, without even touching on the curriculum knowledge or ever changing statutory requirements of the profession.

My advice to potential new recruits?: ‘Make no mistake - schools and teaching have changed a great deal in the last ten years.  You’ll find student behaviour a challenge, and the workload and stress can be immense.  Unless teaching is a vocation for you, find something else to do.  Please don’t go into teaching unless you have a genuine desire to work with children and help them learn.’

For those who do want to enter the profession, my latest book offers new recruits a fun, practical and no nonsense guide. In Teaching Skills for Dummies I cover the whole multitude of areas that new teachers need to master, in a friendly and down to earth way.  The skills I look at include:

My aim is to help teachers and trainees become the best at the job that they can possibly be - that way, we do the best for our children.  The practical advice that I give in my books is just want you need to survive the rigours of the modern day classroom.  And not only that, Teaching Skills for Dummies should give you some laughs as well along the way!’