'Pay ignorance' harming teaching - graduate jobs

Graduates are woefully misinformed about the pay prospects of teaching, with most considering it a poorly-paid career, an education recruiter has said.

Speaking out against the impression and urging more to consider it as a career, Luke Graham, head of recruitment at the Training and Development Agency for Schools, said: "With huge increases in numbers of people enquiring about careers in teaching and all teacher recruitment targets being met for the first time ever in 2009, the profession is attracting increasing numbers of top quality graduates and career changers.

"Teaching is becoming more and more competitive. It is no longer just a safe job that is alright for a fall-back."

His comments came after two polls revealed a large percentage of the population had rejected the notion that the profession was one offering career progression and good rates of pay.

A poll by High Fliers, an independent market research company, said the failure of the industry to attract the best graduates could be explained by the fact that as many as 80 per cent underestimated a teacher's starting salary.

A separate investigation by ICM saw most respondents state that teaching had limited potential progression.