Busman’s holiday for the teachers of tomorrow

Hundreds of trainee teachers are being given bus tours around Bradford schools in a bid to showcase the personal and professional benefits of working in the district when they qualify.

Bradford is thought to be the only city in the UK that lays on the special tours, which are designed to give students a first hand look at what it would be like to work in the city.

A diverse mix of education providers have been chosen as hosts, from a secondary school recently voted National School of the Year to schools at various different stages of the improvement journey.

“The initiative is a crucial part of our strategy to recruit and retain the best teachers into Bradford,” explained Christian Bunting, Director of the Bradford Birth to 19 Teaching School Alliance.

“Like many cities, we face a significant challenge to get the number and quality of teachers we need into our classrooms. This is about dispelling some of the myths about Bradford and giving the students and insight into what it’s like to work in different types of schools across the district so that when they graduate, they can make more informed decisions about their future.

“Bradford has many great schools, which are professionally rewarding places to build your career as a teacher.”

Groups of trainees from universities in Leeds are due visit secondary schools on 15 and 22 November, including award-wining Carlton Bolling College, Beckfoot School and Dixons City Academy. A second tranche of students will be touring a selection of the city’s primary schools on 4 December, 8 and 10 January and 10 March 2020.

The trips are part of a series of city-wide initiatives funded through the Government’s Opportunity Areas programme - work which has helped to retain more teachers in the Bradford area and significantly narrow the gap between the number of teachers recruited and the number required.