Top graduates get £20,000 to teach - graduate jobs

The best UK graduates are to be offered up to £20,000 tax-free if they go into teaching.

It's part of a scheme to get people teaching subjects where there are vacant posts and improve overall standards in the profession. Education secretary Michael Gove is expected to announce the bursary offer.

The Daily Telegraph said graduates with top-class degrees in subjects such as maths and science will be in line for the most cash under the proposals, to be outlined in a consultation on training reforms.

Graduates armed with a first are likely to be offered up to £20,000 to take graduate physics jobs, chemistry jobs and maths teaching positions at secondary school level. Subjects judged "medium priority" - like technology, languages and computer science - would attract up to £13,000 for graduates with top degrees. UK graduates looking to teach other subjects or primary school children would likely be offered £9,000.

People leaving university with 2:2 degrees would be offered £11,000 if they worked in the top priority subjects, while graduates with a 2:1 would get £15,000.

Mr Gove will say: "There are many excellent teachers in this country, but many who could make a huge difference in the lives of children choose other professions."

Copyright Press Association 2011