New research, published by the Teaching Awards Trust, shows the impact that teachers can have in promoting teaching as a career to the next generation. The research finds that one in every two teachers across the country coming into the profession were inspired to do so by an inspirational teacher of their own.
What’s more, the research breaks down the most inspirational teachers, by subject, which shows that English teachers are the most likely to inspire the next generation of teachers. Overall, 17.8% of teachers joined the profession because of their English teacher. Followed by 11.2% for science, 9.9% for maths and 9.5% for history.
The Teaching Awards Trust is calling on school leaders to recognise the ‘invisible legacy’ that their teachers have when it comes to inspiring the next generation of teachers, and to include teaching more explicitly in their careers education programmes.
The Pearson National Teaching Awards is an annual celebration of exceptional teachers, founded in 1998 by Lord Puttnam to recognise the life-changing impact an inspirational teacher can have on the lives of the young people they teach – many of whom, as we now know, go on to train as teachers themselves thanks to the significant impact their teachers have had on them.
Michael Morpurgo, celebrated author and former Children’s Laureate, and President of the Teaching Awards Trust, said:
“It is so wonderful to understand more about how teachers themselves are inspired to enter the profession. This marvellous way of passing it on is one of the many reasons why teachers are so incredible.
“They change the lives of the young people they teach and set them on a path, perhaps without ever realising that they themselves have become the role model, the people that are revered by their own students. So many are too self-deprecating to realise this, and that’s why it is so important to celebrate them.
“At a time when everyone is focused on raising the status of the teaching profession and encouraging more young people to come into teaching, we hope this research will shine a light on what teachers do every day, and encourage them to speak up a bit more about their incredible legacy.’
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